The Politics of Regicide in England, 1760-1850: Troublesome SubjectsThis lively and accessible book reappraises the often complex relationship between British monarchs and some of their more troublesome subjects in the 'age of revolutions'. By exposing a rationale behind the efforts of the mad and the politically disaffected to intrude upon, assault or pester kings and queens from George III to Victoria, the author casts new light upon the contested languages of constitutionalism, contract theory and the rights of petition. The Hanoverian dynasty sought security from republicanism during the 1790s by reinventing itself as an affable, domestic, flexible and solicitous institution. But majesty and approachability were to prove uneasy bedfellows, and popular frustrations over unanswered petitions could provoke serious personal moments of crisis. In its detailed reconstruction of the mentalities of such unsuccessful and forgotten Royal 'assassins' as Margaret Nicholson, James Hadfield and Dennis Collins, this unique and pioneering study of monarchical history from below will interest the specialist and general reader alike, and provoke fresh controversy over the viability of monarchies in the modern world. |
Contents
The Crown and the secular magic of petition | 25 |
Monarchy and the policing of insanity | 46 |
The madness of Margaret Nicholson | 69 |
popular mobilisation and physicality in | 90 |
Lunacy and politics at fin de siècle 18003 | 120 |
regicide radicalism | 142 |
William IV affability and the reform crisis | 162 |
Peels Protection Act and the retreat from | 177 |
Conclusion | 212 |
Other editions - View all
The politics of regicide in England, 1760–1850: Troublesome subjects Steve Poole Limited preview - 2018 |
The Politics of Regicide in England 1760-1850: Troublesome Subjects Steve Poole No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
arrest assassination assault asylum attack attempt August Bethlem Hospital Bethlem Hospital Archive Bill Bow Street British British monarchy carriage Chartist coach Collins committed confined conspiracy constitutional contractual Court Journal crime crowd Crown death defence Despard eighteenth-century England English Evan Nepean evidence examination February Ford Francis French Frith George III George III's George IV Government grievances guards Hadfield Act high treason insanity insanity defence James Hadfield January John John Frith Jones July June jury King's letters London London Corresponding Society Lord Lord Sidmouth loyal lunatics madness magistrates Majesty Margaret Nicholson ministers monarchy Morning Chronicle Neil Maclean Northern Star November offence Office outrage Oxford Palace Park Parliament person petition petitioners pistol Pitt police political popular present Prince Albert prison prosecution punishment Queen Victoria radical reform Regent regicide reign remonstrance republican resistance Royal Bethlem Hospital Royal Family Sidmouth St James's stone Thelwall thought throne trial William Windsor