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George Canning, painting by Sir Thomas Lawrence and Richard Evans; in the National Portrait … (credit: Courtesy of The National Portrait Gallery, London)

(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 (1796 – 99). Canning served twice as foreign secretary (1807 – 09, 1822 – 27); 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.

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