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The Regency
By 1810, it had become clear that George III was not fit to rule and his son the Prince Regent would assume his new role. The Prince Regent was unpopular. He was considered to be impulsive and excessive, overweight and extravagant. He courted controversy for the poor way that he treated his wife. However he was a strong supporter of the arts and this period of his regency and monarchy were years of achievement in both arts and sciences.
- The Prince Regent eventually became king in 1820. Under him the new Corn Law of 1828 relaxed tariffs on foreign grain,
- The Catholic Emancipation Bill was passed in 1829 giving Catholics the right to vote, sit in Parliament and hold public office
- Robert Peel became Prime Minister and began moves towards social and legal reform. He was responsible for the establishment of the first regular police force in London, known as “Peelers” or “Bobbies”
- The 1830’s saw the beginning of electoral reform. Pocket boroughs and rotten boroughs were each as corrupt as one another
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