John
Smith, the eldest son of Benjamin Smith, a cotton merchant from Salford,
was born in 1794. As a young man he held Radical political beliefs
and gained the name John 'Mad' Smith. As a strong supporter of universal
suffrage and an opponent of the Corn Laws,
Smith was at the meeting at St Peter's Field
on 16th August, 1819.
Smith was active in the campaign for parliamentary reform and the
repeal of the Corn Laws throughout the 1820s.
After the death of his father, John Smith took over the management
of the family firm in Manchester. He was a successful businessman
and after amassing a considerable fortune was able to retire from
the company in 1837.
After his retirement from the textile business, Smith concentrated
his energies on politics. He failed in his attempt to become M.P.
for Blackburn in 1837. He was also unsuccessfully when he contested
the parliamentary seats of Walsall and Dundee in 1841. However, he
was elected M.P. for Stirling Birgh in 1847. Smith moved to Stockport
in 1852 and held the seat until 1874. John Smith died on 15th September,
1879.
Massacre by
George Cruikshank
published by Thomas Tegg in August 1819
(1)
John Smith's account of the Peterloo
Massacre was not published in his lifetime. Smith's reminiscences
of the event were eventually published in F. A. Bruton's book Three
Accounts of Peterloo in 1921.
It seemed to be a gala day with the country people who were mostly
dressed in their best and brought with them their wives, and I saw
boys and girls taking their father's hand in the procession. At length
Hunt made his appearance in an open barouche drawn by two horses,
and a woman dressed in white sitting on the box. On their reaching
the hustings which were prepared for the orator, he was received with
enthusiastic applause; the waving of hats and flags; the blowing of
trumpets; and the playing of music. Hunt stepped on the hustings,
and was again cheered by the vast assemblage.
I heard the sound of a horn, and immediately the Manchester Yeomanry
appeared. I heard the order to form three deep, and then the order
to march. The trumpeter led the way and galloped towards the hustings,
followed by the yeomanry. Their sabres glistened in the air, and on
they went, direct for the hustings. As the cavalry approached the
dense mass of people, they used their utmost efforts to escape, but
so closely were they pressed in opposite directions, the special constables,
the position of the hustings, and their immense numbers, that immediate
escape was impossible.
A troop of soldiers, the 15th Hussars, turned round the corner of
the house where we stood and galloped forwards towards the corner
of the house where we stood and galloped forwards towards the crowd.
They were succeeded by the Cheshire Yeomanry, and lastly by two pieces
of artillery. On the arrival of the soldiers, the special constables,
the magistrates, and the soldiers set up loud shouts. This was responded
to by the crowd with waving of hats. After this the soldiers galloped
amongst the people creating frightful alarm and disorder. The people
ran helter-skelter in every direction. It was hot, dusty day; clouds
of dust arose which obscured the view. When it had subsided a startling
scene was presented.
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