William Skirving, was the son of a prosperous farmer from Midlothian.
After being educated at Edinburgh University,
he became a tutor to the family of Sir Alexander Dick of Prestonville.
This was followed by a period farming at Strathruddie. In 1792 his
book on farming, The Husbandman's Assistant,
was published.
In the 1790s Skirving developed radical political views and in the
winter of 1792 became secretary of the recently formed, Scottish Association
of the Friends of the People. Between October and December, 1793 Skirving
helped to organize a series of meetings in Edinburgh. Government spies
also attended these meetings and on 2nd December 1793, Skirving, John
Gerrald and Maurice Margarot were
arrested at a meeting in Edinburgh.
At his trial Skirving was accused of being a member of the Friends
of the People, an organisation formed by Charles
Grey and a group of Radical Whigs in
London. He was also accused of distributing political pamphlets written
and published by Thomas Fyshe Palmer and
imitating the "proceedings of the French convention" by
calling other members "by the name of citizen".
Skirving
was also charged with sedition. To help the jury make their decision,
the judge, Lord Braxfield, defined sedition
as "violating the peace and order of society". When the
jury announced that they found Skirving guilty of the charges, Braxfield
pronounced the sentence, "that the said William Skirving, be
transported beyond the seas for the space of fourteen years."
In February 1793, Skirving and three other men arrested in Scotland
and found guilty of writing and publishing pamphlets on parliamentary
reform, Thomas Muir, John
Fyshe Palmer and Maurice Margarot,
were placed on prison Hulks on the Thames in preparation for their
journey to Australia.
Radicals in the House of Commons immediately
began a campaign to save the men now being described as the Scottish
Martyrs. On 24th February, 1793, Richard
Sheridan presented a petition to Parliament that described the
men's treatment as "illegal, unjust, oppressive and unconstitutional".
Charles Fox pointed out in the debate that
followed that Palmer had done "no more than what had done by
William Pitt and the Duke
of Richmond" when they campaigned for parliamentary reform.
Attempts to stop the men being transported failed and on 2nd May 1794,
The Surprise left Portsmouth and began its 13,000 mile journey
to Botany Bay. While the ship was at sea, a group of convicts, including
Skirving and Joseph Fyshe Palmer were accused
of being involved in a plot to kill the captain and crew. These charges
were dropped when the men arrived in Australia.
As a political prisoner Skirving enjoyed more freedom than other convicts
and was allowed to buy a small farm in Sydney. Conditions were very
harsh in Australia and on 10th March Joseph
Gerrald died of tuberculosis. Nine days later, William Skirving,
became the second Scottish Martyr to die when he succumbed to dysentery.
In 1845 Thomas Hume, the Radical MP organised
the building of a 90 feet high monument in Waterloo Place, Edinburgh.
It contained the following inscription: "To the memory of Thomas
Muir, Thomas Fyshe Palmer, William Skirving, Maurice Margarot and
Joseph Gerrald. Erected by the Friends of Parliamentary Reform in
England and Scotland." On the other side of the obelisk, based
on the model of Cleopatra's Needle in London, is a quotation from
a speech made by Muir on 30th August, 1793: "I have devoted myself
to the cause of the people. It is a good cause - it shall ultimately
prevail - it shall finally triumph."
(1)
William Skirving's reaction to being sentenced to be transported to
Australia for fourteen years.
Conscious of innocence, my lords, and that I am not guilty of
the crimes laid to my charge, this sentence can only affect me as
the sentence of man. It is long since I laid aside the fear of man
as my rule. I know that what has been done these two days will be
rejudged. That is my comfort, and all my hope.
(2)
London Morning Post, 17th January, 1794.
Mr Skirving, who was lately sentenced to fourteen years' transportation
in Scotland, leaves a wife and eight helpless children behind him.
(3)
Governor Hunter of New South Wales, report on the death of William
Skirving (March, 1796)
William Skirving, a very decent, quiet, and industrious man, who
had purchased a farm, and was indefatigable in his attentions to its
improvement, just as the labour of the harvest was near over, was
seized with a violent dysentery, of which he died on the 19th of the
same month.
(4)
One of the sons of William Skirving was asked to make a speech at
a meeting held to celebrate the opening of the monument to the Scottish
Martyrs (21st August 1844)
In 1793 I was a young man, indeed a boy, but I have a vivid recollection
of those who distinguished themselves in the cause of reform. And
it has often struck me, in taking a view of the characters of the
leaders of that movement, that on no occasion was there ever such
a number of men eminent alike for their moral and religious worth,
united for the attainment of a popular right, all of them, with few
exceptions, being men who enjoyed the confidence of their fellow citizens,
being selected by them to manage their affairs both of a religious
and civil description.
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