Canning I

Canning I (also sometimes spelled Canning the First) refers almost exclusively to George Canning, a prominent British statesman and politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom briefly in 1827. The "I" denotes his status as the first, and so far only, British Prime Minister with the surname Canning. While other Cannings may have held minor political offices, the designation "Canning I" is used to differentiate him from any hypothetical future prime minister with the same last name and to emphasize his unique place in British political history as the most significant Canning figure. The need to specify "I" is primarily to avoid ambiguity in historical or political discussions. The practice is relatively uncommon, as George Canning's prominence is widely recognized and the simple "Canning" generally suffices to identify him.