1696 Jacobite assassination plot facts for kids
In early 1696, a group of people called Jacobites tried to kill King William III. This attempt was led by George Barclay. The plot was unsuccessful. It was one of many plans by Jacobites to bring back King James II to the throne.
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What Was Happening Before?
The Jacobites wanted to undo the Glorious Revolution of 1688–1689. This event had removed James II from power and put William III and Mary II on the throne.
Before the 1696 plot, there were other plans. One was the "Ailesbury plot" around 1691–1692. Another was the "Fenwick plot" in 1695. These were all part of the Jacobites' efforts.
A man named Robert Charnock was involved in these plans. He had fought for James II in a battle in 1690. Later, in 1694, he was in charge of a group in London. Their goal was to start a rebellion against King William III. Charnock even talked about kidnapping William III and taking him to France. But nothing happened by April 1695.
Sir John Fenwick, 3rd Baronet, was a close advisor to James II. When Queen Mary died in late 1694, the Jacobites became more interested in taking action in England. Money for their plans arrived from France. Fenwick, however, did not like Charnock's ideas. He wanted a huge invasion instead. So, he sent Charnock to France to plan a large-scale attack.
In June, Fenwick was arrested. Sir George Barclay then took over his role. Barclay was supposed to work with an invasion force. But Barclay thought the invasion plan was hopeless. He decided to go back to the idea of "kidnapping" William. This was really a secret way of saying they planned to kill him.
How Was the Plan Set Up?
The plot depended on King William III's usual routine. He often went hunting. When he returned, he would cross the River Thames by ferry at Kew. This ferry would take him to a narrow lane. This lane ran from Turnham Green to Brentford. At that time, these areas were open countryside, not part of London.
Barclay's plan was to surprise William in his coach. They would attack his armed guards too. They chose a spot on the lane that was very narrow. This way, the royal coach and its six horses would not be able to turn around or escape easily.
The plotters prepared their armed men. They were ready to act on two dates: February 15 and February 22, 1696. One group of attackers was led by Ambrose Rookwood.
How Was the Plot Discovered?
William Trumbull, who was a government minister, heard about the plotting in August 1695. He started gathering information from secret informers. Later, James Vernon took over the investigation.
There were many rumors. But the most important information came from Thomas Prendergast. George Porter, one of the plotters, approached Prendergast on February 13, 1696. Prendergast then went to William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, a close friend of the King. He told him about the conspiracy. In a second meeting, Prendergast gave the King details about the plotters. There were about 40 people involved in total.
What Happened After the Plot?
The assassination attempt never happened on either of the planned days. On February 23, 1696, the government announced that the plotters were wanted. Many Jacobites were arrested, even some who were not directly involved in the plot. These included James Grahme, Thomas Higgons, and Bevil Higgons. They were later released.
Trials related to the plot began in March. Some plotters, like Sir John Friend and Sir William Parkyns, were found guilty and sentenced to death. On April 13, 1696, they were executed. Three priests who did not support the Church of England, called Non-Juror priests, were with them. They declared Friend and Parkyns free of their sins. This caused a big argument. One of the priests, Jeremy Collier, had to hide.
In total, nine Jacobite activists were put to death. Sir John Fenwick was also found guilty and executed in January 1697. Some others, like Robert Cassels and John Bernardi, were kept in prison without trial for a very long time. Bernardi died in prison in 1736.
What Were the Political Effects?
The discovery of the plot made the King's supporters, known as the Whig Junto, stronger. It helped them get more money from Parliament. The House of Commons, which is part of Parliament, agreed to sign an "association". This was like a loyalty oath to the King. People argued that King William's survival was a sign of divine providence (God's will). This idea made his claim to the throne even stronger.
