A Sorry End: The Priestley Riots of 1791
Image: Ticket for the French Revolution Dinner, Birmingham 14 July 1791. The Dinner began the chain of events which led to the Priestley Riots. The Ticket admits the bearer to dine at the Hotel on Thursday, July 14, 1791. No 48. Initialled T D. French Revolution Dinner.
Image from: Joseph Priestley Collection by Samuel Timmins, Birmingham City Archives.
Text: Peter Leather
Summary
This article was originally presented in a public day school, “Joseph Priestley and Birmingham” organised by the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Birmingham on Saturday 28 February 2004. Peter Leather explores the events of the Priestley Riots in Birmingham in 1791.
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A Sorry End: The Priestley Riots of 1791
Introduction: Interpretations
The French Revolution Dinner 14 July 1791
The French Revolution Dinner 14 July 1791
The Attack on the New and Old Meeting Houses
The Attack on Priestley’s House at Fair Hill
The Attack on Baskerville House
The Attack on William Russell’s House at Showell Green
Sources and Further Reading
The most up-to-date published list of sources for the Priestley Riots is provided by Field, Clive D, “The Protestant Churches” in Chinn, Carl (ed), Birmingham: Bibliography of a City (University of Birmingham Press, Birmingham, 2003) pp. 99-101.
