Spencer Perceval is the only British Prime Minister ever to be assassinated — and yet he’s one of the least remembered.

In 1809, Britain was fighting Napoleon, the economy was under strain, and unrest was growing at home. Perceval, a serious and deeply religious lawyer, led an unpopular government at one of the most dangerous moments in British history.

His policies divided Parliament, angered the public, and on a spring evening in 1812, a single gunshot in the House of Commons ended his life.

Today, we’re telling the story of Spencer Perceval — how he reached the top, why so many people hated him, and how his death shocked a nation.