James Hadfield facts for kids

James Hadfield (born around 1771 or 1772 – died January 23, 1841) was an English man who tried to harm George III of Great Britain in 1800. He was found not guilty of the crime because of his mental state.

Early Life and Injuries

Not much is known about James Hadfield's early life. We do know that he was a soldier. He was badly hurt in a battle called the Battle of Tourcoing in 1794.

Head Injuries in Battle

Before he was captured by the French army, Hadfield was hit many times on the head. He was struck eight times with a sword, which left clear marks on his head for the rest of his life. These injuries were very serious.

Hadfield's Beliefs and Actions

After returning to England, Hadfield became involved with a religious group. He started to believe that if the British government executed him, it would help bring about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Because of this belief, he decided to try and harm the King. He hoped this would lead to his own execution.

The Attempt on the King

On the evening of May 15, 1800, Hadfield went to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. While the national anthem was playing, he fired a pistol at King George III. The King was standing in his special viewing area, called the royal box. Luckily, Hadfield missed.

The Trial and Legal Changes

Hadfield was put on trial for a very serious crime against the King. He was defended by Thomas Erskine, who was a very famous lawyer at that time.

Pleading Mental Illness

Hadfield's lawyers argued that he was not mentally well when he tried to harm the King. At that time, to be found not guilty due to mental illness, a person had to be "lost to all sense." This meant they had to be unable to understand what they were doing. Hadfield's careful planning of the shooting seemed to go against this idea.

Erskine's Argument

Thomas Erskine argued that a person could have mental illness even if they didn't seem completely out of control. He said that having strong false beliefs, or "delusions," was a true sign of mental illness. Two doctors and a physician testified that Hadfield's delusions were likely caused by his earlier head injuries.

The Judge's Decision

The judge, Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon, stopped the trial. He said it was clear that Hadfield should be found not guilty. However, the judge also said that Hadfield could not be set free. This was for his own safety and for the safety of others.

New Laws for Mental Health

Before Hadfield's case, people found not guilty due to mental illness were often sent home. After his trial, Parliament quickly passed a new law called the Criminal Lunatics Act 1800. This law made it possible to keep people with mental illness who committed crimes in special hospitals for a long time.

Later Life

James Hadfield spent the rest of his life in Bethlem Royal Hospital, which was also known as Bedlam. This was a famous hospital for people with mental illness.

Escape and Recapture

Hadfield did escape from the hospital for a short time. He was caught in Dover while trying to get to France. After being held briefly in Newgate Prison, he was sent back to Bethlem Hospital. He died there in 1841 from a lung disease called tuberculosis.

Hadfield in Stories and TV Shows

James Hadfield's story has been shown in some TV shows.

• He appeared in an episode of the BBC TV legal drama series Garrow's Law. In this show, William Garrow is shown as his lawyer, but some parts of the story were changed for the show.
• James Hadfield is also a character in the final season of the TV show Poldark. He is played by the actor Andrew Gower.