LIVERPOOL, ROBERT BANKES JENKINSON, second earl of, 1770-1828; educated at the charter-house school and Christ-church college, Oxford; traveled on the continent, and was in Paris at the breaking out of the French revolution and the destruction of the bastile. Returning to England be was elected to parliament in 1790, but did not take his seat till the following year as lie had not yet attained his majority. In 1792 lie opposed Mr. Wilberforce's motion for the abolition of the slave trade. In 1793 be was appointed one of the commissioners of the India board of trade. In 1796, his father being created earl of Liverpool, he took his title of lord Hawkesbury, and was made commissioner of Indian affairs. On the retirement of Mr. Pitt in 1801 and the appoint ment of the Addington ministry, he was appointed secretary of state for the foreign department, and negotiated the treaty of Amiens. On the return of Pitt to power. Liv erpool was home secretary 1805-7, and, on the death of Pitt, was offered the premier ship, but declined. In 1808, on the death of his father, he became earl of Liverpool.
Upon the dissolution of the Fox and Grenville administration in 1807 he again refused the premiership, but accepted the home department under Percival, on whose assassina tion in 1812 Liverpool became prime minister, with the title also of the first lord of the treasury. His administration extended from 1812 to 1827. His opposition to parlia mentary reform, to Roman Catholic emancipation, to the abolition of the slave trade, and the emancipation of the slaves in the West Indies, his severe measures to repress internal disturbances, and his introdnction of the bill of pains and penalties arminst queen Caroline, rendered him very unpopular, especially in Scotland. Ile WaS at&ked with paralysis. and during the last three months.of his life was helplossAnd imbecile.