Edward Oxford
Encyclopedia
Edward Oxford was tried for high treason
for attempting to assassinate Queen Victoria in 1840.
The Queen was out riding on Constitution Hill
with her husband, Prince Albert, on 10 June, when Oxford shot twice at the couple, missing both times. He was seized by onlookers, arrested and tried at the Old Bailey
in July 1840. He was acquitted by reason of insanity and sent to Bethlem Royal Hospital
, where he remained until the criminal patients of the institution were transferred to Broadmoor Hospital
in 1864. Three years later, he was offered a discharge if he would agree to leave the country. He lived out the rest of his life in Melbourne, Australia
, under the name John Freeman and died on April 23 1900.
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
for attempting to assassinate Queen Victoria in 1840.
The Queen was out riding on Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill, London
Constitution Hill is a road in the City of Westminster in London. It connects the western end of The Mall with Hyde Park Corner, and is bordered by Buckingham Palace Gardens and Green Park. The term "Hill" is something of a misnomer; there is barely detectable slope but most observers would...
with her husband, Prince Albert, on 10 June, when Oxford shot twice at the couple, missing both times. He was seized by onlookers, arrested and tried at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
in July 1840. He was acquitted by reason of insanity and sent to Bethlem Royal Hospital
Bethlem Royal Hospital
The Bethlem Royal Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located in London, United Kingdom and part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Although no longer based at its original location, it is recognised as the world's first and oldest institution to specialise in mental illnesses....
, where he remained until the criminal patients of the institution were transferred to Broadmoor Hospital
Broadmoor Hospital
Broadmoor Hospital is a high-security psychiatric hospital at Crowthorne in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It is the best known of the three high-security psychiatric hospitals in England, the other two being Ashworth and Rampton...
in 1864. Three years later, he was offered a discharge if he would agree to leave the country. He lived out the rest of his life in Melbourne, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, under the name John Freeman and died on April 23 1900.