Trial, execution and legacy John Bellingham

a contemporary engraving of john bellingham

john bellingham tried on friday 15 may 1812 @ old bailey, argued have preferred shoot british ambassador russia, insisted wronged man justified in killing representative of oppressors.

he made formal statement court, saying:

recollect, gentlemen, situation. recollect family ruined , myself destroyed, merely because mr perceval s pleasure justice should not granted; sheltering himself behind imagined security of station, , trampling upon law , right in belief no retribution reach him. demand right, , not favour; demand birthright , privilege of every englishman.

gentlemen, when minister sets himself above laws, mr perceval did, own personal risk. if not so, mere of minister become law, , become of liberties?

i trust serious lesson operate warning future ministers, , henceforth thing right, if upper ranks of society permitted act wrong impunity, inferior ramifications become wholly corrupted.

gentlemen, life in hands, rely confidently in justice.

evidence presented bellingham insane, discounted trial judge, sir james mansfield. bellingham found guilty, , sentenced death.

bellingham hanged in public 3 days later. rené martin pillet, frenchman wrote account of ten years in england, described sentiment of crowd @ execution:

farewell poor man, owe satisfaction offended laws of country, god bless you! have rendered important service country, have taught ministers should justice, , grant audience when asked of them.

a subscription raised widow , children of bellingham, , fortune ten times greater ever have expected in other circumstances . widow remarried following year.

bellingham s skull preserved @ barts pathology museum.

in september 2009 st neots local history society erected plaque on bellingham house in st neots. house, on corner of huntingdon street , cambridge street, said birthplace of bellingham.