Newport Rising November 1839: the campaign to free three leaders transported to Tasmania
185 year ago on 4th November a large body of Chartists attempted an armed rising in Newport, South Wales. It failed, albeit only just.
Three leaders Frost, Williams and Jones were originally sentenced to death but campaigning pressure saw the sentences commuted to transportation to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania).
The sentences were eventually pardoned in 1856 although only Frost returned to Britain (to Bristol)
In January 1841 there was a discussion in the Lords as to whether the three Chartists were receiving preferential treatment on the orders of the then Whig (Liberal) Government. This was denied by the Marquess of Normanby:
had no objection whatever to do so. It was generally supposed that the same indulgence had been given to these parties as to other political offenders; but political offenders were of various degrees. It was to be
supposed that political offenders of every grade were to be treated with less rigour than other offenders; political offences were of various degrees, and he wished it to be understood that he did not consider the offences of these men came under the description of that class which ought to be treated with leniency.
However during the discussion it was revealed that a Chartist meeting had been held in Bristol in January 1841 with the express purpose of commuting the sentences of the three leaders of the Newport Rising. Its an important reminder of solidarity campaigning in the Chartist period
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