Title

Anti-Catholic Gordon Riots, London, 6-7 June 1780. Artist: Unknown.

Caption

Anti-Catholic Gordon Riots, London, 6-7 June 1780. A mob setting fire to Newgate Prison and freeing prisoners. Lord George Gordon, a retired navy lieutenant, was strongly opposed to proposals for Catholic emancipation. On 2nd June, 1780, Gordon led a crowd of 50,000 people to the House of Commons to present a petition for the repeal of the 1778 Roman Catholic Relief Act, that had removed certain disabilities. This demonstration turned into a riot and for the next five days many Catholic chapels and private houses were destroyed. Buildings attacked and damaged included the Bank of England, King's Bench Prison, Newgate Prison and Fleet Prison. (Colorised black and white print).
The Print Collector collection

Date

1780

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/The Print Collector

Reference

HRM19D08_152

Model release

No

License type

Rights managed

Available size

40,4Mb (6,1Mb) / 13,0in x 12,1in / 3886 x 3636 (300dpi)

Keywords

building buildings England people crowd destruction religious religion law crime burning fire color colour confrontation Christianity prison century city of london rebellion prisoner anarchy concept arson disorder riot mob colourised Protestantism penitentiary 18th century Eighteenth Century rioting The Print Collector Gordon Riots 1780 Newgate Gaol Newgate Prison religious persecution rioter TGN engraving Unknown Lord George Gordon Gordon Lord George colorised Lord George Gordon engraving