Laurence Peel

Laurence Peel (28 June 1801 – 10 December 1888) was a British Tory politician and the younger brother of Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Laurence was described by one historian as "the youngest and least talented, but perhaps the most personally attractive of the Peel brothers". Early life Peel was the sixth son of Sir Robert Peel, 1st Baronet and Ellen Yates. Among his siblings were older brothers, Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, William Yates Peel (an MP who married Lady Jane Elizabeth Moore, daughter of Stephen Moore, 2nd Earl Mount Cashell), Edmund Peel (also an MP), and Jonathan Peel (a soldier, politician and owner of racehorses). Among his sisters was Harriet Peel (who married Robert Henley, 2nd Baron Henley) and Mary Peel (who married politician George Robert Dawson). His father was a wealthy industrialist and one of early textile manufacturers who sat in the House of Commons representing Tamworth as a 'Church and King' Tory and a staunch supporter of William Pitt the Younger. His grandfather, Robert Peel, and great-grandfather, William Peel, were both yeomen. Peel was educated at Rugby School and Christ Church, Oxford where he became close friends with the Lord Holland's son, Henry Edward Fox. Career When he left Oxford in March 1822, his elder brother Robert, who had recently appointed Home Secretary in Lord Liverpool's ministry, took Laurence into the office as his unpaid private secretary. In 1827, he was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Cockermouth. Peel was an undistinguished Member who is not known to have spoken in debate. He voted against Catholic relief and for the spring guns bill on 23 March 1827. He held the seat until 1830.