In 1811, Gascoyne received a number of petitions from Liverpool resident John Bellingham, calling for him to take up his claim for compensation from the British government for a period of imprisonment he had suffered in Russia. In May 1812, Bellingham entered the lobby of the House of Commons and shot Prime Minister Spencer Perceval dead. Gascoyne was able to recognise Bellingham, providing leads in the immediate aftermath.[7][8]
In 1831, Gascoyne moved a motion opposing a reduction of the seats allocated to England.[9] The Government opposed this, holding that it was necessary to address the over-representation of England. When Gascoyne's motion was carried, the Government called the 1831 general election, in an attempt to gain a clear majority for reform.[10]
Gascoyne lost his seat on 4 May after the 1831 election, and died on 26 August 1841 at 71 South Audley Street, London, from an inflammation in his bowels.[11] He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
Personal life and family
He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.[12]
Isaac Gascoyne was the father of General Ernest Frederick Gascoyne, of Raby Hall, Liverpool (1796–1867),[13] who was the great-great-great-grandfather of television presenter Bamber Gascoigne.[14]
^His date of birth is often given as 1770 in Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, p. 729, but that is inconsistent with an Army Commission in 1779.
^Stratford, Stephen. "Spencer Percival". British Military & Criminal History. Archived from the original on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2006.
