Gordon Riots

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The Gordon Riots, depicted in a painting by John Seymour Lucas
The Gordon Riots, depicted in a painting by John Seymour Lucas

The Gordon Riots refers to a number of events in a predominantly Protestant religious uprising in London, England, in 1780, aimed against the Papists Act 1778, "relieving his Majesty's subjects, of the Catholic Religion, from certain penalties and disabilities imposed upon them during the reign of William III."

The ostensible intention of this piece of legislation was, as the Act's preamble states, to mitigate some of the more extreme manifestations of official discrimination against Roman Catholics in the Kingdom of Great Britain at the time, particularly and notably absolving Catholics from taking the religious oath when joining the British military. There were very strong expedient reasons for this particular act of seeming benevolence, notably the fact that British military forces at the time were stretched very thin in what had become a global American War of Independence, with conflicts ongoing with France, Spain and America, and opening the door to recruitment of Catholics was a significant factor in the eventual resolution of this shortfall of manpower.

Lord George Gordon set up a Protestant Association in 1780 to force the repeal of this legislation. An articulate, albeit eccentric propagandist, Gordon inflamed the mob with fears of papism and a return to absolute monarchical rule, intimating that Catholics in the military would, given a chance, join forces with their co-religionists on the Continent, and attack Britain.

The political climate deteriorated rapidly. On 29 May 1780 Gordon called a meeting of the Protestant Association, and his followers subsequently marched on the House of Commons to deliver a petition demanding the repeal of the Roman Catholic Relief Act the following week.

Thus, on 2 June 1780 a huge crowd, many carrying flags and banners proclaiming "No Popery", and estimated to be between 40,000 to 60,000 strong, assembled and marched on the Houses of Parliament. As they marched, their numbers gathered and swelled. They attempted to force their way in to the House of Commons but without success. Gordon, petition in hand, and wearing in his hat the blue cockade, symbol of the Protestant Association, entered the Lower House and presented the petition. Outside, however, the situation quickly got out of hand and a riot erupted.

Newgate Prison was attacked and largely destroyed, as was The Clink.[1] Severe destruction was inflicted on Catholic churches and homes, including the chapels on the grounds of several embassies, as well as the Bank of England, Fleet Prison, and the house of the Lord Chief Justice, William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield.

The army was called out on 7 June and given orders to fire upon groups of four or more who refused to disperse. About 285 persons were shot dead, and several hundred more were wounded. Of those arrested, about 20 or 30 were executed. Gordon was arrested and charged with high treason, but was found not guilty.

The army units which dealt with the rioters were Honourable Artillery Company and the 1st Battalion/2nd Regiment of Foot also known as the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).

The riots are described at first hand in Boswell's famous biography of Samuel Johnson and at second-hand by Charles Dickens in his historical novel Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty (1840-41).

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