The Popgun Plot - a bit of dubious airgun history

[ccdjg]

It is not often that airguns have been involved in political history, but I came across one little known rather dubious, example with the claim that an airgun was used in an attempted assassination of mad King George III in 1795. This has been called the “Popgun Plot” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popgun_Plot). See also https://pasttenseblog.wordpress.com/...-angry-crowds/.
George III was not exactly a popular king, and there were two assassination attempts on his life. The 1795 incident happened at the opening of Parliament, when he was mobbed by a big crowd, and a window in his carriage was pierced with round hole but no sound of a shot was heard. The Government (who were very pro-monarch) used the incident to round up several known activists, and they claimed that a powerful airgun had been used. This was probably just propaganda to drum up public sympathy, taking advantage of the fact that the Austrian army Girardoni airguns were still news at the time, but one can’t be sure.

This cartoon engraving of the time shows a crude airgun being fired at the carriage.




An even cruder engraving shows another type of airgun being used, which puts a whole new meaning on the term “gas gun”.

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collec...1868-0808-6660

[Garvin]

Fascinating! Google throws up this, which makes reference to the Girandoni:

https://blog.geolsoc.org.uk/2014/12/...e-popgun-plot/

Some sources suggest a 'poison dart' was fired, allegedly. Interestingly the doctor accused of this fiendish plot was James Parkinson and based on his observations, Parkinson's disease was identified.

[micky2]

I like the second print, 2 good bowls of baked beans would give it more power.

[ogilkes]

The golden age of political cartoons