Thomas Brereton
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Brereton (1782–1832) was an Irish soldier who led the dragoons against the rioters during the Bristol Riots
and was subsequently court-martial
led for his leniency.
He was the governor of Senegal
by the time of the Méduse tragedy.
Brereton was born in King's County (now Offaly), Ireland
and was commissioned into the 8th West India Regiment
in 1798. He subsequently served in the Royal African Corps, 53rd Foot, Royal York Rangers and 49th Foot.
He became Inspecting Field Officer, Bristol Recruiting District, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of Dragoon
s, living in Hambrook Court
. When the Bristol Riots
broke out in October 1831, he was ordered to disperse the mob in Queen Square, Bristol
in the centre of Bristol. He initially tried to use persuasion rather than force, and when pressed to charge the crowds he did so but without using firearms. He was subsequently court-martialled for neglect of duty: his conduct was described as 'highly disgraceful' and he shot himself during the hearing.
" was a ghost story based on the circumstances of Brereton's death. The plot revolved around a family moving into an old house in Bristol that finds a long-dead skeleton in a hidden room. After some unexplained incidents, they become convinced that a ghost connected in some way with the Bristol Riots
of 1831 is haunting the house. After checking local records, they realize that it is the ghost of a dragoon commander who was court-martialled for his handling of the riots, and who later disappeared without a trace. The ghost is named "George Bretherton" in the TV series. One of his descendants, named "Mrs Betterton", had sold the house to the family, but was allegedly unaware of the hidden room and its contents, referring only to a vague family scandal that happened generations ago.
Bristol Riots
The Bristol riots refer to a number of significant riots in the city of Bristol in England.- Bristol Bridge riot, 1793 :The Bristol Bridge Riot of 30 September 1793 began as a protest at renewal of an act levying of tolls on Bristol Bridge, which included the proposal to demolish several houses...
and was subsequently court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
led for his leniency.
He was the governor of Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
by the time of the Méduse tragedy.
Brereton was born in King's County (now Offaly), Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and was commissioned into the 8th West India Regiment
West India Regiment
The West India Regiment was an infantry unit of the British Army recruited from and normally stationed in the British colonies of the Caribbean between 1795 and 1927. The regiment differed from similar forces raised in other parts of the British Empire in that it formed an integral part of the...
in 1798. He subsequently served in the Royal African Corps, 53rd Foot, Royal York Rangers and 49th Foot.
He became Inspecting Field Officer, Bristol Recruiting District, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of Dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s, living in Hambrook Court
Hambrook
Hambrook is a village in South Gloucestershire, England, just outside the outskirts of the city of Bristol. It lies between the two larger communities of Winterbourne and Frenchay and is part of the Civil Parish of Winterbourne...
. When the Bristol Riots
Bristol Riots
The Bristol riots refer to a number of significant riots in the city of Bristol in England.- Bristol Bridge riot, 1793 :The Bristol Bridge Riot of 30 September 1793 began as a protest at renewal of an act levying of tolls on Bristol Bridge, which included the proposal to demolish several houses...
broke out in October 1831, he was ordered to disperse the mob in Queen Square, Bristol
Queen Square, Bristol
Queen Square is a garden square in the centre of Bristol, England. It was originally a fashionable residential address, but now most of the buildings are in office use....
in the centre of Bristol. He initially tried to use persuasion rather than force, and when pressed to charge the crowds he did so but without using firearms. He was subsequently court-martialled for neglect of duty: his conduct was described as 'highly disgraceful' and he shot himself during the hearing.
Depictions in Film
The 1978 children's paranormal TV drama "The Clifton House MysteryThe Clifton House Mystery
The Clifton House Mystery was a British children's television paranormal drama series written by Daniel Farson and Harry Moore, produced by Patrick Dromgoole and directed by Hugh David, and shown in 1978 by HTV....
" was a ghost story based on the circumstances of Brereton's death. The plot revolved around a family moving into an old house in Bristol that finds a long-dead skeleton in a hidden room. After some unexplained incidents, they become convinced that a ghost connected in some way with the Bristol Riots
Bristol Riots
The Bristol riots refer to a number of significant riots in the city of Bristol in England.- Bristol Bridge riot, 1793 :The Bristol Bridge Riot of 30 September 1793 began as a protest at renewal of an act levying of tolls on Bristol Bridge, which included the proposal to demolish several houses...
of 1831 is haunting the house. After checking local records, they realize that it is the ghost of a dragoon commander who was court-martialled for his handling of the riots, and who later disappeared without a trace. The ghost is named "George Bretherton" in the TV series. One of his descendants, named "Mrs Betterton", had sold the house to the family, but was allegedly unaware of the hidden room and its contents, referring only to a vague family scandal that happened generations ago.