John William Gott
Encyclopedia
John William Gott was the last person in Britain
to be sent to prison for blasphemy
. A trouser salesman from Bradford
, he led the Freethought Socialist League.
In 1911, Gott was sentenced to four months in jail for publishing attacks on Christianity. He continued his campaign, however, and further periods of imprisonment followed: two weeks at Birkenhead in 1916; and six weeks in Birmingham in 1917. His final arrest was in 1921.
At his last trial for blasphemy at the Old Bailey
in London
in 1921, he was found guilty, and sentenced to nine months' imprisonment with hard labour.
An appeal was lodged, supported by the National Secular Society
; the Lord Chief Justice upheld the conviction. Giving the judgement at the Court of Appeal, Lord Trevethin C.J. said:
"It does not require a person of strong religious feelings to be outraged by a description of Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem 'like a circus clown on the back of two donkeys'. There are other passages in the pamphlets equally offensive to anyone in sympathy with the Christian religion, whether he be a strong Christian, or a lukewarm Christian, or merely a person sympathizing with their ideals. Such a person might be provoked to a breach of the peace."
By the time Gott was released, his weak health had been broken by the harsh conditions of his imprisonment. He died on 4 November 1922, at the age of 56.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
to be sent to prison for blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
. A trouser salesman from Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, he led the Freethought Socialist League.
In 1911, Gott was sentenced to four months in jail for publishing attacks on Christianity. He continued his campaign, however, and further periods of imprisonment followed: two weeks at Birkenhead in 1916; and six weeks in Birmingham in 1917. His final arrest was in 1921.
At his last trial for blasphemy 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 London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1921, he was found guilty, and sentenced to nine months' imprisonment with hard labour.
An appeal was lodged, supported by the National Secular Society
National Secular Society
The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
; the Lord Chief Justice upheld the conviction. Giving the judgement at the Court of Appeal, Lord Trevethin C.J. said:
"It does not require a person of strong religious feelings to be outraged by a description of Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem 'like a circus clown on the back of two donkeys'. There are other passages in the pamphlets equally offensive to anyone in sympathy with the Christian religion, whether he be a strong Christian, or a lukewarm Christian, or merely a person sympathizing with their ideals. Such a person might be provoked to a breach of the peace."
By the time Gott was released, his weak health had been broken by the harsh conditions of his imprisonment. He died on 4 November 1922, at the age of 56.