200 years on, face of 1812 PM’s assassin is rebuilt
He is the only assassin to claim the life of a British prime minister.
John Bellingham’s face was previously only known to the public through sketches in newspapers and magazines.
But now, more than 200 years after he was hanged, he is seen ‘pictured’ for the first time after his preserved skull was used for a facial reconstruction.
Bellingham – an ancestor of current Tory MP Sir Henry Bellingham – shot dead prime minister Spencer Perceval in the Houses of Parliament on May 11, 1812.
He held a grudge against the government because he believed it should have helped when he was imprisoned in Russia in 1805 for a trading debt. The 42-year-old was hanged on May 18, 1812 and his body was sent for dissection by doctors – a common practice with notorious criminals at the time – with his skull
‘He didn’t need to look bad’
preserved. experts at Barts Pathology Museum in London helped create the reconstruction. The anatomy of his skull was used to help build up his facial features, along with a database of other human faces. Computer software helped to complete the image.
Forensic artist Hew Morrison, who previously reconstructed the face of a 3,700year-old Bronze Age woman dubbed Ava, said: ‘I found the skull to be rather unusuallooking, with quite a bulbous cranium and noticeable asymmetry of the chin.
‘John Bellingham would have had a long, narrow, slightly downturned nose.
‘This was apparent when I saw the skull, as the nasal aperture was, indeed, quite significant in length with a downward nasal spine. I gave him a neutral expression as I treated this like any other facial expression. Despite committing the crime, I did not feel the need to make him look bad or mean in any way.’
Sideburns were added to match drawings from the time, which also showed Bellingham’s hairstyle and the colour of his eyes. He is presented in typical men’s clothes from the era. Museum technician Carla Valentine said: ‘This is a novel way to engage the public with a previously one-dimensional specimen.’ However, Sir Henry Bellingham, MP for North West Norfolk, last night criticised the reconstruction.
He stressed: ‘The trial today would be considered a complete miscarriage of justice.
‘Time has moved on. I think the skull and remains ought to be given to the family rather than used in this way, which I think is in questionable taste.’
Sir Henry, a trained barrister, previously insisted: ‘I think he had a nervous breakdown and probably wouldn’t be fit to plead today.’