1788-1850. British Conservative politician.
As home secretary 1822-27 and 1828-30, he
founded the modern police force and in 1829
introduced Roman Catholic emancipation. He
was prime minister 1834-35 and 1841-46, when
his repeal of the Corn Laws caused him and
his followers to break with the party. Peel,
born in Lancashire, entered Parliament as a
Tory 1809. After the passing of the Reform
Bill 1832, which he had resisted, he reformed
the Tories under the name of the Conservative
Party, on a basis of accepting necessary
reforms and seeking middle-class support. He
fell from prime ministerial office because
his repeal of the Corn Laws 1846 was opposed
by the majority of his party. He and his
followers then formed a third party standing
between the Liberals and Conservatives; the
majority of the Peelites, including
Gladstone, subsequently joined the Liberals.