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2 unusual facts about Riot Act


Riot Act

The death penalty created by sections 1 and 4 and 5 of the Act was reduced to transportation for life by section 1 of the Punishment of Offences Act (1837).

Willoughby Cotton

Ingles called in the local militia, whereupon the Riot Act was read and the island taken.


Quarter session

In 1867, the Attorney-General for Ireland, Hedges Eyre Chatterton, issued guidelines to regulate which cases ought to be tried at tried at assizes rather than quarter sessions: treason, murder, treason felony, rape, perjury, assault with intent to murder, party processions, election riots, and all offences of a political or insurrectionary character.

Sacheverell riots

The Sacheverell riots and further disturbances in 1714 and 1715, led to the passing of the Riot Act.


see also

Wilfred Parke

He was the grandson of Charles Joseph Parke of Henbury in Dorset a former High Sheriff of the county and was a great nephew of General William Parke as well as being great great grandson of the Reverend Charles Wickstead Ethelston who read the riot act at the Peterloo riots and signed the arrest for the speakers.