1696 Jacobite assassination plot: Difference between revisions
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[[Sir John Fenwick, 3rd Baronet]] was one of the inner circle advising James on English affairs, and was hawkish. The death of Queen Mary at the end of 1694 revived their interest in direct action in England, and finance from France arrived by April 1695. Fenwick, however, was opposed to the schemes proposed by Charnock and his group. Meeting in May with [[Sir John Friend]] and others, he sent Charnock to France to move a plan for a massive invasion, instead. In June Fenwick was involved in Jacobite rioting and was arrested. Sir George Barclay was sent to act as his deputy in commanding forces supposed to co-ordinate with an invasion force under the [[James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick|Duke of Berwick]]. Barclay assessed the plan as hopeless, shunned Fenwick, and went back to the original idea of "kidnapping" William, certainly a euphemism for an assassination.<ref>{{cite ODNB|id=9304|title=Fenwick, Sir John|first=Paul|last=Hopkins}}</ref> |
[[Sir John Fenwick, 3rd Baronet]] was one of the inner circle advising James on English affairs, and was hawkish. The death of Queen Mary at the end of 1694 revived their interest in direct action in England, and finance from France arrived by April 1695. Fenwick, however, was opposed to the schemes proposed by Charnock and his group. Meeting in May with [[Sir John Friend]] and others, he sent Charnock to France to move a plan for a massive invasion, instead. In June Fenwick was involved in Jacobite rioting and was arrested. Sir George Barclay was sent to act as his deputy in commanding forces supposed to co-ordinate with an invasion force under the [[James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick|Duke of Berwick]]. Barclay assessed the plan as hopeless, shunned Fenwick, and went back to the original idea of "kidnapping" William, certainly a euphemism for an assassination.<ref>{{cite ODNB|id=9304|title=Fenwick, Sir John|first=Paul|last=Hopkins}}</ref> |
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==Plan== |
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The plot was based on William III's habitual movement, on returning from hunting. On the south bank of the [[River Thames]], at [[Kew]], he would take a ferry that would bring him to the north bank, on a lane than ran from Turnham Green to [[Brentford]] (at this period west of the London conurbation.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Sir Walter Scott|author2=John Somers Baron Somers|title=A Collection of Scarce and Valuable Tracts, on the Most Interesting and Entertaining Subjects: Reign of King William III (cont.)|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=YZ4hAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA139|accessdate=10 September 2013|year=1814|publisher=T. Cadell, W. Davies|page=139}}</ref> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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The Jacobite assassination plot 1696 was an unsuccessful attempt led by George Barclay to ambush and kill William III of England in early 1696.
Barclay's plan depended on surprising William in his coach, and his armed escort, at Turnham Green. It was intended to use three parties of armed men, one to capture the king, and the others to deal with his guards. The plot was prepared to act on 15 February and 22 February 1696, under the command of Ambrose Rookwood. The attempt did not take place on either day, and on 23 February a proclamation was made against the plotters. Rookwood and others including Robert Lowick were executed in April.[1][2]
Background
Robert Charnock had served under John Parker in the Jacobite cavalry at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. In 1694 he was put in command of forces raised in the London area by Parker, for a potential Jacobite rising against William and Mary. Parker also drew in George Porter and Sir William Parkyns. He left the country in the middle of 1694. By then Charnock was discussing a plan to kidnap William III and take him to France. Mixed messages from James II confused the issue, and nothing had been done by April 1695, when William left the country.[3]
Sir John Fenwick, 3rd Baronet was one of the inner circle advising James on English affairs, and was hawkish. The death of Queen Mary at the end of 1694 revived their interest in direct action in England, and finance from France arrived by April 1695. Fenwick, however, was opposed to the schemes proposed by Charnock and his group. Meeting in May with Sir John Friend and others, he sent Charnock to France to move a plan for a massive invasion, instead. In June Fenwick was involved in Jacobite rioting and was arrested. Sir George Barclay was sent to act as his deputy in commanding forces supposed to co-ordinate with an invasion force under the Duke of Berwick. Barclay assessed the plan as hopeless, shunned Fenwick, and went back to the original idea of "kidnapping" William, certainly a euphemism for an assassination.[4]
Plan
The plot was based on William III's habitual movement, on returning from hunting. On the south bank of the River Thames, at Kew, he would take a ferry that would bring him to the north bank, on a lane than ran from Turnham Green to Brentford (at this period west of the London conurbation.[5]
Notes
- ^ Hopkins, Paul. "Rookwood, Ambrose". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24067. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1893). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 34. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ Hopkins, Paul. "Charnock, Robert". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/5171. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Hopkins, Paul. "Fenwick, Sir John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9304. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Sir Walter Scott; John Somers Baron Somers (1814). A Collection of Scarce and Valuable Tracts, on the Most Interesting and Entertaining Subjects: Reign of King William III (cont.). T. Cadell, W. Davies. p. 139. Retrieved 10 September 2013.