born April 11, 1770, London, Eng.
died Aug. 8, 1827, Chiswick, near London
British politician.
As a young man, he came under the influence of William Pitt , who helped him win a seat in Parliament (1793) and a post as undersecretary for foreign affairs (179699). Canning served twice as foreign secretary (180709, 182227); his policies included cutting England adrift from the Holy Alliance and recognizing the independence of the Spanish American colonies. He became prime minister in 1827 but died a few months later. He helped the Tory Party take a more liberal view on many questions of domestic, colonial, and foreign policy.
George Canning, painting by Sir Thomas Lawrence and Richard Evans; in the National Portrait ...
Courtesy of The National Portrait Gallery, London