Many monarchs, heads of countries, presidents, prime minister, peoples in charge have been assassinated. In our own country we have had a few, Edward II, Charles I, James I, Henry VI and of course we have only had one PM knocked off and that was Spencer Perceval, KC (Kings Council), he was assassinated in 1812. Attempts have been made on may of our monarchs and Queen Victorian was of course no exception.

Edward Oxford stood trial on 9th of July, 1840, for High Treason, a more than very serious offence, for taking a potshot at Queen Victoria.

He stood trial at the Central Crown Court before Lord Denman, Mr Baron Alderson and Mr Justice Patteson.

He was indicted on the following terms:

“Central Criminal Court, to wit.– The jurors for our lady the Queen, upon their oath present, that Edward Oxford, late of Westminster, in the county of Middlesex, labourer, being a subject of our lady the Queen, heretofore, to wit, on the 10th of June, in the year of our Lord 1840, within the jurisdiction of the said court, as a false traitor to our lady the Queen, maliciously and traitorously, with force and arms, etc., did compass, imagine, and intend to bring and put our said lady the Queen to death. And to fulfil, perfect, and bring to effect his most evil and wicked treason, and treasonable compassing and imagination aforesaid, he the said Edward Oxford, as such false traitor as aforesaid, to wit, on the said 10th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1840, aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of the said court, with force and arms, maliciously and traitorously did shoot off and discharge a certain pistol, the same then and there being loaded with gunpowder and a certain bullet, and which pistol he the said Edward Oxford then and there had and held in one of his hands at the person of our said lady the Queen, with intent thereby and therewith maliciously and traitorously to shoot, assassinate, kill, and put to death our said lady the Queen. And further, to fulfil, perfect, and bring to effect his most evil and wicked treason and treasonable compassing and imagination aforesaid, he the said Edward Oxford, as such false traitor as aforesaid, afterwards, to wit, on the said 10th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1840, aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of the said court, with force and arms, maliciously and traitorously did shoot off and discharge a certain other pistol, the same then and there being loaded with gunpowder and a certain bullet, and which pistol he, the said Edward Oxford, then and there had and held in one of his hands, at the person of our said lady the Queen, with intent thereby and therewith maliciously and Continue reading “Queen Victoria’s assassin”