Massacre of St George's Fields
Encyclopedia
On 10 May 1768, the imprisonment in King's Bench Prison
of the radical John Wilkes
(for writing an article for The North Briton
, that severely criticised King George III) prompted a riot at St George's Fields
. After the reading of the Riot Act
, six or seven people were killed by troops, starting with a young man named William Allen. The event became known as the Massacre of St George's Fields. Allen was pursued to the "Horse-shoe Inn," Stones End, and shot in the inn-yard. He was buried in the churchyard at Newington
, where a monument was erected to his memory. The Irish playwright and government supporter Hugh Kelly made a defence of the government's right to use force against Wilkes' supporters. This in turn led to a riot at the production of Kelly's new play A Word to the Wise
at the Drury Lane Theatre
, forcing the production to be abandoned.
King's Bench Prison
The King's Bench Prison was a prison in Southwark, south London, from medieval times until it closed in 1880. It took its name from the King's Bench court of law in which cases of defamation, bankruptcy and other misdemeanours were heard; as such, the prison was often used as a debtor's prison...
of the radical John Wilkes
John Wilkes
John Wilkes was an English radical, journalist and politician.He was first elected Member of Parliament in 1757. In the Middlesex election dispute, he fought for the right of voters—rather than the House of Commons—to determine their representatives...
(for writing an article for The North Briton
The North Briton
The North Briton was a radical newspaper published in 18th century London. The North Briton also served as the pseudonym of the newspaper's author, used in advertisements, letters to other publications, and handbills....
, that severely criticised King George III) prompted a riot at St George's Fields
St George's Fields
St George's Fields was an area of Southwark in South London, England.Originally the area was an undifferentiated part of the south-side of the Thames, which was low lying marshland unsuitable for even agricultural purposes. As such it was part of the extensive holdings of the king, it is difficult...
. After the reading of the Riot Act
Riot Act
The Riot Act was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain that authorised local authorities to declare any group of twelve or more people to be unlawfully assembled, and thus have to disperse or face punitive action...
, six or seven people were killed by troops, starting with a young man named William Allen. The event became known as the Massacre of St George's Fields. Allen was pursued to the "Horse-shoe Inn," Stones End, and shot in the inn-yard. He was buried in the churchyard at Newington
Newington, London
Newington is a district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It was an ancient parish and the site of the early administration of the county of Surrey...
, where a monument was erected to his memory. The Irish playwright and government supporter Hugh Kelly made a defence of the government's right to use force against Wilkes' supporters. This in turn led to a riot at the production of Kelly's new play A Word to the Wise
A Word to the Wise
A Word to the Wise is a 1770 comedy play by the Irish writer Hugh Kelly. It was his second work after the 1767 hit False Delicacy. Kelly was known as a supporter of the government, and an opponent of the radical John Wilkes, and during the second performance of the play at a riot broke out amongst...
at the Drury Lane Theatre
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
, forcing the production to be abandoned.
See also
- List of massacres in the United Kingdom
- Boston MassacreBoston MassacreThe Boston Massacre, called the Boston Riot by the British, was an incident on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers killed five civilian men. British troops had been stationed in Boston, capital of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, since 1768 in order to protect and support...
, two years later