Paisley Radical Trial 1820 22/09/2016 at 7.30 pm

Due to unforeseen circumstances we were unable to host this last year and Tom Dowds has kindly agreed to deliver this lecture as our opener for 2016/17.

Although Paisley had not been directly involved in the Radical Rising in early 1820, the government was determined to root out what it regarded as trouble-makers and set up a commission to try suspects under English Law, and two Paisley Radicals were put on trial, charged with treason.  Trials in Glasgow and Stirling led to the execution of James Wilson of Strathaven, John Baird of Condorrat and Andrew Hardie of Glasgow, along with the transportation of other Radicals.  When James Spiers was arraigned in Paisley, the authorities were in for a surprise as the hand-picked jury stubbornly refused to be intimidated and bullied into finding him guilty, and the government decided to abandon all other trials throughout Scotland.

The lecture will take place in the Paisley Museum's lecture hall. We look forward to seeing all members, old and new, guests and visitors.