LIVERPOOL, ROBERT BANKS JENKINSON, second Earl of (1770-182S). An English states man. He was the eldest son of Charles Jenkin son. Educated at the Charterhouse School and Christ Church College, Oxford, he went in 1789 on a Continental tour, which gave him a sight of the opening days of the French Revolu tion. In 1790 he was elected to Parliament, and became closely connected with the Tory interests. After seven years' work as a member of the India Board, he became a member of the Addington Cabinet in 1801. negotiating while in that posi tion the famous Treaty of Amiens with Napoleon. After 1796 he was known by courtesy as Lord Hawkesbury, and in 1803 was created Baron Hawkesbury. On the return of Pitt to power, Hawkesbury became Home Secretary (1804-06). He held the same office under the Portland Administration, in 1507. In 1 SOS, on the death of his father, he became Earl of Liverpool. After holding portfolios in the Ministry of Perceval, he became Premier on the assassination of that statesman in 1812, and for fifteen years re mained at the head of English affairs. Though his administration was frequently very unpopu lar, lie was enabled, by the union in 1812 of the old and new Tories, to obtain majorities. He
opposed the reform of Parliament and Roman Catholic emancipation, and had to hear the odium of the difficulties of George IV. with his wife, Queen Caroline. His Ministry was further criticised for the bad administration of finances, the increase of the duty on im ported grain, and the reputed connivance of England in the putting down of the revolu tion in Naples. Personally Lord Liverpool was a free-trader, seeking. in connection with Canning and Iluskisson, the reform of the burdensome Corn Laws. On February 17, 1827, he had a stroke of paralysis, and was compelled thereby to resign office. Ile died December 4, 1828. Liverpool was not a brilliant man, but his con servatism and steadiness helped materially to carry England safely through the enormous dif ficulties of the Napoleonic era, and the rearrange ment of affairs which became necessary there after. Consult: Yonge, Life and Administration of Lord Liverpool (London, 1868) ; Kebbell, His tory of Toryism (London, 1882) ; Napier, Penin sular Won- (London, 1857).