Gordon riots
These were some of the most fierce riots ever in London. A meeting was organised by Lord George Gordon in 1779 to protest at a bill which was just to "relieve his Majesty's subjects of the Catholic Religion, from certain penalties and disabilities imposed upon them during the reign of William III". This was interpreted by the angry mob as "Popery". They demolished Catholic chapels, broken open Newgate prison, and much else besides, and resolved to attack the Bank of England. Finally the authorities realised that they must ask the military to crush the riots.
Several newspapers mentioned the part played by the Northumberland militia :-
"About 11 pm a party of the Northumberland militia came into Holburn; they had marched that day nearly 40 miles, and the moment they arrived at their place of rendevouz, which was Lincoln's Inn Fields, they were sent into Holburn. As soon as they appeared before the bonfire in front of Mr Langdale's house, the Insurgents attacked them. The party then discharged their pieces, but as they were only loaded with powder no harm was done; this experiment was tried to intimidate the ruffians, for strict orders had been given to use every lenient measure before coming to extremity, but it had no effect.
"The Insurgents continued their attack, and one of the officers being very much hurt, it was found absolutely neccessary to fire with ball; yet the fire was very prudently conducted, for the soldiers were not permited to fire along the street. Their officers drew them up on the north side of Holburn, fronting the bonfire and the house on fire, so that no person could be hurt but those who were rioting round the fire, burning the furniture and casks, and those who were still in the house plundering it. By the second volley, two or three were killed.
"This judicious conduct of the officers deserves great praise, for the streets were much crowded by people, moving their most valuable goods, as they did not know where the fire would stop. No innocent person could suffer by the firing, for it went directly across the bonfire into the house. This second volley had the proper effect, and drove off the insurgents from the front of the houses." - Scot's magazine, July 1780.
"It would be unpardonable not to mention that the steady conduct of the Northumberland Militia under the command of Lord Algernon Percy, occasioned a most effectual check to be given to the violence of the rioters, on the Wednesday night, at the burning of Fleet Prison; when it is a known fact, that soon after they had fired, the Corps twice presented and twice recovered their arms, without a single man discharging his piece, although the mob were at that time using every means to irritate and provoke them." - Gentlemen's magazine July 1781
Links :-
http://www.online-literature.com/view.php/barnabyrudge/68?term=northumberland
return to Alexander Cairens' life (he was my ancestor and served in the Northumberland militia)
return to my family history home page