John Baird (revolutionary)
Encyclopedia
John Baird was a Scottish revolutionary. A weaver by trade, he was brought up in the village of Condorrat
. He is best remembered as a radical commander in the "Radical War
" of 1820, and along with James Wilson and Andrew Hardie
is the best remembered radical combatant in the "Radical War".
Baird had a military career in the British Army
, serving in the 2nd Battalion of the 95th Regiment of Foot (known as the Rifle Brigade) seeing military action in both Argentina
and Spain
. His military experience meant that he was suitable to become commander of the Radicals in their doomed march to the Carron Ironworks.
He was sentenced to death and was executed in Stirling
on September 8, 1820 along with Hardie. He is remembered as a martyr to the fight for universal suffrage
by many figures in Scotland, particularly the 1820 Society.
Condorrat
Condorrat is a village on the eastern edges of Dunbartonshire in Scotland. The village origins dates to around the 17th century. Over the past few decades it has been subsumed by the new town of Cumbernauld....
. He is best remembered as a radical commander in the "Radical War
Radical War
The Radical War, also known as the Scottish Insurrection of 1820, was a week of strikes and unrest, a culmination of Radical demands for reform in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland which had become prominent in the early years of the French Revolution, but had then been repressed...
" of 1820, and along with James Wilson and Andrew Hardie
Andrew Hardie (radical)
Andrew Hardie was second-in-command of the Radical Forces who marched on Scotland's Carron Ironworks in the "Radical War" of 1820.He was sentenced to death and was executed in Stirling on September 8, 1820 along with John Baird. In his speech on the scaffold he declared himself "a martyr to the...
is the best remembered radical combatant in the "Radical War".
Baird had a military career in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, serving in the 2nd Battalion of the 95th Regiment of Foot (known as the Rifle Brigade) seeing military action in both Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. His military experience meant that he was suitable to become commander of the Radicals in their doomed march to the Carron Ironworks.
He was sentenced to death and was executed in Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
on September 8, 1820 along with Hardie. He is remembered as a martyr to the fight for universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
by many figures in Scotland, particularly the 1820 Society.