Born: 11 April 1770 in Marylebone, London

First entered Parliament: 28 June 1793

Age he became PM: 57 years, one day

Maiden¹ speech: 31 January 1794 speaking on a debate on a treaty with the King of Sardinia, granting him a subsidy² to help him fight against the French

Total time as PM: 119 days

Died: 8 August 1827 at Chiswick House, Middlesex

Facts and figures

Nicknames: "The Cicero of the British Senate" and "The Zany of Debate"

Education: Eton and Christ Church College, Oxford³

Family: He was married to Joan Scott and had four children

Interests: Theatre, writing poetry, practical jokes and parlour games

• Government Art Collection Portrait

Biography

Short term in charge

George Canning died suddenly in office just 119 days after taking up the post.

Popular, witty⁴ and intelligent, Canning gained an early political following as an excellent public speaker. He was one of the first politicians to campaign heavily in the country, making many speeches outside Parliament.

He was an enthusiastic follower⁵ of Pitt the Younger, resigning from his post as Paymaster General in 1801 when Pitt resigned as prime minister.

Canning was known for his opposition⁶ to parliamentary reform and his advocacy of Catholic emancipation⁷.

In 1807 Canning was made Foreign Secretary under the Duke of Portland. His greatest success was outmanoeuvring Napoleon at Copenhagen by seizing the Danish navy.

But he also quarrelled badly with the War Minister, Castlereagh, over the deployment⁸ of troops. When Castlereagh discovered in September 1909 that Canning had made with the Duke of Portland to have him removed from office, he was furious.

Demanding redress⁹, he challenged Canning to a duel¹⁰, which was fought on 21 September 1809. Canning had never before fired a pistol and completely missed, whilst Castlereagh wounded his opponent in the thigh¹¹. Both men resigned as a result of the incident.

To Portugal and back

A few weeks later, Canning was disappointed to be passed over as the choice for prime minister in favour of Spencer Perceval.

His anger was such that he refused a high profile post in Perceval's government. However, after a brief stint¹² as ambassador to Portugal, he returned to join the government as President of the Board of Control.

He later replaced his old rival as Foreign Secretary in Lord Liverpool's government after Castlereagh's suicide in 1822. Once again, he made a successful Foreign Secretary, especially in preventing South America from falling into French hands.

Canning replaced Liverpool as PM on 10 April 1827, and set about forming a coalition¹³ with the Whigs under Lord Lansdowne.

But on 8 August 1827, Canning died from pneumonia¹⁴ at Chiswick House, after spending barely five months in office. His last words were 'Spain and Portugal'.

He has come to be regarded by some as a 'lost leader', with much speculation¹⁵ about what would have happened had he lived.

Quote unquote

"The happiness of constant occupation is infinite."

Did you know?

Canning holds the record of having served as prime minister for the shortest period. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Wife

Five years younger than Canning, Joan Scott preferred to stay in the background rather than playing the role of society heiress. Canning adored her and trusted her judgement on everything, discussing all his public and private concerns with her. She was created Viscountess Canning soon after her husband's death.