Sir Robert Peel was the principal architect of the modern Conservative party at a time when the rest of Europe wa often at the mercy of revolution. His reputation suffered both before and after his death by his two great policies of Catholic Emancipation and the Repeal of the Corn Laws. Both went against his previously expressed opinions, and both destroyed the unity of the Tory Party. But both proved that his statesmanship was of the highest kind, capable of guiding the country out of severe difficulties to stability and security...