Description:Sir Robert Peel was born in 1788 in Bury, Lancashire to a wealthy cotton manufacturer, and died in 1850. He had a very successful political career with the Tory party that began in 1809, at age 21, when he was elected to Parliament and culminated in him being Prime Minister for two terms, between 1834-5 and 1841-46. He founded the metropolitan police in 1829, and was responsible for many reforms including the repeal of the Corn Laws and the Reform Bill.
Sir Robert Peel, his father (also called Robert Peel), and his son, all represented Tamworth in Parliament. The family left their mark on Tamworth, with the Tamworth Savings Bank, and Peel Schools, built separately by Sir Robert Peel and his father.
A mezzotint by C. Turner after an oil portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence.