LIVERPOOL, Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2d Earl of, English statesman: b. London, 7 June 1770; d. there, 4 Dec. 1828. He was the eldest son of Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool (q.v.). He was educated at Charter house School and Christ Church College, Ox ford, 1786-89; in the latter year traveled in Europe, reaching Paris during the French Revolution and witnessing the fall of the Bas tile. He was elected to Parliament in 1790; in 1803 was created Baron Hawkesbury; and in 1808 upon the death of his father succeeded to the title of Earl of Liverpool. In Parliament he was prominently identified with the Tories; for seven years was a member of the India Board; in 1799 became Master of the Mint; and in 1801 became Foreign Minister in the Addington Cabinet, and while in that office negotiated the Treaty of Amiens with Napoleon. On 12 May 1804, when Pitt was returned to power, he accepted the office of Home Secre tary and became leader of the House of Lords and held that post until Pitt's death. During the Whig ministry of 1806-07 he led the op position, but on 25 March 1807 was again ap pointed Home Secretary in the Portland ad ministration; and Secretary of War and the Colonies, 1809-12. He held various portfolios
during Perceval's administration and when the latter was assassinated in 1812 became Premier and continued to direct English affairs until April 1827, when a stroke of paralysis forced him to resign office. He opposed the Roman Catholic emancipation movement and the re form of Parliament and his term of office was marked for a time by a somewhat retrograde policy on the part of the ministry and wide spread discontent among the people. Public finances were criticized as being poorly admin isteied; the duty on imported grain was in creased; and the policy of forcible repression was followed by him till 1826, but from that time he sought to modify and reform the bur densome Corn Laws. He was instrumental in sending Napoleon to Saint Helena and in read justing French affairs in 1815 and 1818. With out being a man of eminent talents, he was pos sessed of unfailing tact, good temper and an instinct for practical solutions.