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in the north-east corner. They had a straw effigy of a man. Dundas's neighbours, Admiral Duncan of
Camperdown and Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre, tried to dispel the crowd but stone-throwing began and they all sheltered in Dundas's house. The crowd began to break the windows and a servant was sent
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was read. This was a legal requirement before physical force was used, but the action in its own right is clearly inflammatory, as it implies an intention to attack. Immediately upon completion of the reading the troops burst through the crowd. The majority appear to have fled diagonally across the
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The
Edinburgh goldsmiths decried the actions of the mob in a public statement on 7 June. There followed a series of public declarations of loyalty of various trade halls, swearing loyalty to the constitution. At a meeting held from 11 to 13 December 1792, 170 representatives met at a hall in James
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The servant persuaded the commander of the castle to send around a dozen troops from the 53rd
Cavalry Regiment, armed with sabres and pistols, to the Dundas house. Given the day, it is highly likely that the troops were intoxicated. Arriving at George Square probably around 40 to 60 minutes after
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Although Thomas Muir of
Huntershill is not named as one of the rioters in June, it is logical to presume he was either present or had encouraged the actions. Certainly Robert Dundas of Arniston is said to have remained in Edinburgh to watch those involved "like a hawk" and report to London his
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The riots came on the back of a period of civil unrest, variously sourced from feelings transferring from the French
Revolution, further changes in the Corn Laws, food shortages, and a general unhappiness of the population with their leading figures in politics and law. A proclamation banning
137:) on the south-east corner of St Andrew Square in the New Town. A City Guard sentry box near the house was set upon and smashed to pieces. Edinburgh Castle, learning of the disturbance, lit a beacon fire on the half moon battery, and that signalled a beacon to be lit on
174:, a Glaswegian by birth, but then an Edinburgh lawyer. Divisions in public opinion began to appear, but the majority supported the old status quo. Muir was prosecuted the following year for his part in the convention and for being the Edinburgh publisher of
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into the city. Combining forces with cavalry troops from the castle, the mob dispersed. Provost
Stirling had by then sought refuge in Edinburgh Castle. The local doctor
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126:. The wisdom of this against mounted troops is clearly dubious. Several bodies were found on the edge of the Meadows on the following morning.
210:(which erected the plaque) but there is no known link between the building and Rush, whereas the true history of the building is ignored.
97:. They fired pistols in the air with each toast. A mob appeared outside and were dispersed after some stone-throwing. No-one was injured.
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due to the outbreak of war he could not attend court as required, and was automatically outlawed by Dundas... ultimately being sent to
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findings. Muir was the focus of all his attention, and given Dundas's position, Muir was then doomed. When Muir became trapped in
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were a series of riots in
Edinburgh over three consecutive days in June 1792. They are sometimes also called the
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On the evening of 4 June members of the City Guard and
Cavalry were getting drunk at Old Parliament Hall near
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On the following evening (5 June) a small mob (not necessarily the same group) gathered outside the house of
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It was traditional at that time for officials and soldiers to celebrate the birthday of King
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Sir James
Stirling, dressed as Lord Provost, with a view of Edinburgh Tolbooth prison behind
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Meikle, Henry W. (1909). "The King's
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rather than Robert Dundas or the Dundas Riots. Rush was a student at the
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317:"The Birthday Riots occurred in Edinburgh - On this day in history"
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That evening (6 June) a new mob assembled outside the house of
228:"Undiscovered Scotland: On This Day in Scottish History: June"
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67:"seditious writing" had been passed in May 1792.
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117:being sent for, the crowd was still there. The
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418:Political scandals in the United Kingdom
202:57 George Square bears a plaque, but to
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253:"BBC - 04 June in Scottish History"
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423:Protests in the United Kingdom
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133:(the then
74:: 4 June.
72:George III
38:Background
192:Australia
161:Aftermath
89:The Riots
428:Suffrage
355:25518146
292:Archived
143:HMS Hind
119:Riot Act
62:HMS Hind
326:18 June
262:18 June
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151:marines
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301:29 May
198:Trivia
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