The great thing about the myriad islands where the British Empire’s sun never set, is we get stamps on some obscure but very British subjects. Here we have the Gordon Riots. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
On the occasion of the death century of author Charles Dickens, Cayman Islands shows us the title character of his serialized novel Barnaby Rudge. This is thought of as one of Dickens lessor works. It was written during the time Dickens was transitioning from writing shorts stories for his own magazine, that was called Master Humphrey’s Clock, to full length stories. There were two interesting things about Barnaby Rudge. It was set in the Gordon Riots, the story of which I will tell below. It also was reviewed by Edger Alan Poe, who liked that the title simpleton carried a raven, seen on the stamp, on his shoulder. He thought the raven under utilized by Dickens, and was inspired to write his masterpiece The Raven.
Todays stamp is issue A34, a 1 cent stamp issued by the Cayman Islands on June 17th, 1970. It was a four stamp issue in various denominations showing Dickens characters. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp was worth 25 cents unused.
The Gordon Riots happened in London in 1780. At the time the Empire found itself fighting Catholic France And Spain in an attempt to hold on to the North American colonies of Britain. The fight was not going well and the government was positively considering a change in the law to allow British Catholics to serve in the Army. A “mostly peaceful march” by Catholics was the beginning of the trouble.
Scotsman Lord George Gordon, head of the Protestant Association, was strongly opposed to the change. He thought that Catholic soldiers would change sides when sent to fight the Catholic Armies of France or Spain. He organized counter demonstrations and the level of violence increased. Newgate Prison became a center of the violence. The Protestants attempted to breach the prison to set free the prisoners inside to join the cause. When they couldn’t get in they set Newgate on fire and the prisoners were then released. On a stone wall of the prison, graffiti appeared. ” Inmates have been released on authority of His Majesty, King Mob”. The riot was put down forcibly by the Army.
Lord George was tried for treason by the House of Lords but acquitted as his aims were found not treasonous. This was not the end for him as he had stirred the hornet’s nest. Under pressure, the Archbishop of Canterbury excommunicated Lord George. He was then sentenced to jail for defamation of some prominent Catholics. Lord George responded to how his Anglican country treated him by converting to Judaism and living the rest of his life as an Orthadox Jew. Talk about upping the victim ante!
Perhaps there is some lesson in all of this for modern times. When the government sends out Antifa to promote unpopular ideas in the streets, they should not be surprised to find some Proud Boys.
Well my drink is empty and I will pour another to toast Lord George Gordon. Not so much that I agree with everything he said, but it was nice to hear something different. Come again soon for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2020.