At first it is feared that the shot might signal the start of an uprising, but it soon becomes apparent that the assassin—who had made no attempt to escape —is a man with an obsessive grievance against the Government and had acted alone.

The assassin, John Bellingham, is a merchant who believes he had been unjustly imprisoned in Russia and is entitled to compensation from the government, but all his petitions have been rejected.

Perceval's body is laid on a sofa in the speaker's drawing room and removed to Number 10 in the early hours of May 12.

That same morning an inquest is held at the Cat and Bagpipes public house on the corner of Downing Street and a verdict of wilful murder is returned.

Bellingham his been tried on the 17th, and, refusing to enter a plea of insanity, is found guilty.

He is hanged on May 18.