Queen Victoria's reign, we are led to believe, was a long and happy one. She ruled over a period of innovation and great prosperity (for some); of tight corsets, top hats, and clanking steam engines. With its empire at its height, Britain saw enormous changes, both technological and social.
But it wasn't all caviar and chocolates. Good Queen Vic, God bless 'er, wasn't universally loved. In fact, she was the subject of no fewer than seven assassination attempts. Most involved disturbed individuals taking potshots at her with pistols as she passed in her carriage. Far from terrifying Her Majesty, she seemed to rather enjoy the experience. "It is worth being shot at", she said, "to see how much one is loved". Every time someone had a go at her, her popularity increased.
The first attempt was when she was just 21 years old and pregnant, riding through London. On 10 June 1840, 18-year-old Edward Oxford, unemployed, fired on her. He was tried for high treason and found guilty, but was acquitted on the grounds of insanity. He spent the rest of his life in a lunatic asylum.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
In 1842, she was targeted twice. First, in May, by John Francis; then in July by John Bean. Francis's death sentence was commuted to transportation for life. While Bean, who loaded his pistol with just paper, gravel and pieces of clay pipe, was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
In 1849, William Hamilton had a go. He received seven years' transportation for his trouble. On 27 June 1850, Robert Francis Pate changed tack. Instead of standing back and firing, he rushed towards her carriage, and bopped her on the forehead with his cane. He was exiled to Tasmania. In 1872, a "passionately Irish" 17-year-old, Arthur O'Connor, tried his hand. He was sentenced to one year's hard labour, and 20 strokes of the birch. He ended his days as an "imbecile" in Hanwell asylum.
And on this day in 1882, at Windsor station, Roderick Maclean became the last in a long line of would-be killers. As the Queen and Princess Beatrice got into their carriage, he fired on them. He was immediately set upon by two pupils from Eton School, who bashed himabout the headwith their umbrellas until he was arrested. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity, and confined to a lunatic asylum.
-
Should you sell in May this year?The market adage looks unlikely to apply in 2024, and global equities are proving resilient
-
Should you invest in UK equities?The FTSE 100 hit a record high this week, but UK equities remain unloved and undervalued compared to their global and US peers. Should you snap them up at a discount?
-
31 August 1957: the Federation of Malaya declares independence from the UKFeatures On this day in 1957, after ten years of preparation, the Federation of Malaya became an independent nation.
-
13 April 1960: the first satellite navigation system is launchedFeatures On this day in 1960, Nasa sent the Transit 1B satellite into orbit to provide positioning for the US Navy’s fleet of Polaris ballistic missile submarines.
-
9 April 1838: National Gallery opens in Trafalgar Square
Features On this day in 1838, William Wilkins’ new National Gallery building in Trafalgar Square opened to the public.
-
3 March 1962: British Antarctic Territory is created
Features On this day in 1962, Britain formed the British Antarctic Territory administered from the Falkland Islands.
-
10 March 2000: the dotcom bubble peaks
Features Tech mania fanned by the dawning of the internet age inflated the dotcom bubble to maximum extent, on this day in 2000.
-
9 March 1776: Adam Smith publishes 'The Wealth of Nations'
Features On this day in 1776, Adam Smith, the “father of modern economics”, published his hugely influential book The Wealth of Nations.
-
8 March 1817: the New York Stock Exchange is formed
Features On this day in 1817, a group of brokers moved out of a New York coffee house to form what would become the biggest stock exchange in the world.
-
7 March 1969: Queen Elizabeth II officially opens the Victoria Line
Features On this day in 1969, Queen Elizabeth II took only her second trip on the tube to officially open the underground’s newest line – the Victoria Line.
