John William Bean facts for kids

John William Bean (born 1824 – died 19 July 1882) was a British man known for trying to harm Queen Victoria in 1842. He used a gun loaded with paper and tobacco. Bean was born with dwarfism and a hunchback. He said he tried to shoot the Queen because he wanted to be sent to a penal colony (a place where criminals were sent far away). He was unhappy with his life in England. Instead, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a minor attack.

Who Was John William Bean?

John William Bean was born in Holborn, Middlesex, in 1824. His father was a jeweller and metalsmith. John was born with a hunchback and dwarfism. He tried to work with his father, but the job was too physically demanding. He also tried to learn other trades, like working with cheese or at a government office, but these didn't work out either.

Bean became very interested in stories about Edward Oxford. Oxford had also tried to harm Queen Victoria. Bean sold his Bible and other books to buy an old flintlock pistol for a small amount of money. He hoped to do something similar to Oxford.

The Day of the Attempt

On 3 July 1842, Queen Victoria was traveling from Buckingham Palace to a church service. She was on a street called The Mall. Bean pushed his way to the front of the crowd. He pulled out his gun and fired it at the Queen.

However, the gun did not work properly. It was mostly loaded with paper and tobacco, so it just misfired. A man named Charles Edward Dassett quickly grabbed Bean's wrist. Dassett took Bean to two policemen nearby. He showed them the gun and said Bean had fired it at the Queen.

The policemen laughed and didn't believe Dassett. They said they couldn't arrest Bean without more proof. Dassett kept the gun and was later arrested himself for having it. But he told the police about Bean. Other people who saw what happened also supported Dassett's story.

Since Bean was described as having a hunchback, many people with hunchbacks in London were arrested. Bean was arrested later that day at his home. The two policemen who didn't take Dassett seriously were suspended from their jobs.

What Happened in Court?

At first, Bean was accused of high treason. This was a very serious crime against the Queen. But the police later changed the charge to a less serious one called a misdemeanour assault. They thought if the charge was less serious, newspapers would pay less attention to the case.

Bean said he never meant to kill the Queen. He claimed he aimed at the ground, not at her. He told the court he wanted to be transported to Australia. This meant being sent to a faraway prison colony. He said he was tired of his life in England.

The trial took place on 25 August 1842. Bean was found guilty. The judge sentenced him to 18 months in prison. This was the longest sentence he could give for a minor assault at that time. Bean was sent to Millbank Prison.

After this event, Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, felt that minor acts against the Queen that didn't cause harm shouldn't lead to a death penalty. Because of this, a new law was made called the Treason Act 1842. This law created less severe punishments for minor treason offences.

Later Life

After being released from prison, John William Bean became a newspaper seller and a jeweller. He got married twice and had a son named Samuel in 1849. In 1877, he was sent to a lunatic asylum (a mental hospital). John William Bean died on 19 July 1882, at his home in Camberwell.