BattlefieldsPorteous Riot Edinburgh 1736
modern

Porteous Riot Edinburgh 1736

1736
Scotland
Era
modern
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Captain Porteous / British government
Forces
Captain Porteous; government subsequently seeking ringleaders
VS
Victor
Edinburgh crowd
Forces
Edinburgh crowd of thousands acting in disciplined coordination
Outcome
Porteous lynched; government furious; Edinburgh threatened with loss of city privileges; duchess of Queensberry exiled from court for supporting the rioters; no ringleaders identified
The Battle

History & Significance

Edinburgh crowds lynched Captain John Porteous of the Town Guard whom the crown had reprieved after he ordered his men to fire on a crowd at a public execution killing several people; the riot demonstrated Edinburgh popular hostility to government authority and Scottish resentment of Hanoverian administration

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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