James Wroe was born in Bradford in 1788.
Wroe was a woolcomber and after moving to Manchester became involved
in local politics. In 1818 Wroe helped John
Knight, Joseph Johnson and John
Saxton to start the radical newspaper, the Manchester
Observer. James Wroe became the newspaper's first editor and
within twelve months it was selling 4,000 copies a week. Although
it started as a local paper, by 1819 it was sold in most of the large
towns and cities in Britain. Henry Hunt called
the Manchester Observer "the
only newspaper in England that I know, fairly and honestly devoted
to such reform as would give the people their whole rights."
In March 1819, Joseph Johnson, John
Knight and James Wroe formed the Patriotic
Union Society. All the leading radicals in Manchester joined the organisation.
Johnson was appointed secretary of the Society and Wroe became treasurer.
The main objective of the Patriotic Union Society was to obtain parliamentary
reform and during the summer of 1819 it decided to invite Major
Cartwright and Henry Orator Hunt to speak
at a public meeting in Manchester.
The men were told that this was to be "a meeting of the county
of Lancashire, than of Manchester alone. I think by good management
the largest assembly may be procured that was ever seen in this country."
Cartwright was unable to attend but Hunt agreed and the meeting was
arranged to take place at St. Peter's Field
on 16th August.
James Wroe was at the St. Peter's Field and described the attack on
the crowd in the next edition of the Manchester
Observer and is believed to be the first person to describe
the incident as the Peterloo Massacre.
Wroe also produced a series of pamphlets entitled The Peterloo
Massacre: A Faithful Narrative of the Events. The pamphlets, which
appeared for fourteen consecutive weeks from 28th August, price twopence,
had a large circulation, and played an important role in the propaganda
war against the authorities. The government wanted revenge and Wroe
was arrested and charged with producing a seditious publication. He
was found guilty and sentenced to twelve months in prison, plus a
£100 fine.
Wroe continued
to be active in politics after the Peterloo
Massacre. He edited the Manchester
Observer until government fines forced him to give it up in
February 1820. Wroe became a bookseller in Great Ancoats Street where
he sold radical books and newspapers. In 1838 he was chosen as one
of Manchester's delegates to the first Chartist National Convention.
James
Wroe
died in August 1844.
(1)
The Manchester Observer (21st August, 1819)
The morning of the 16th was hailed with exultation by the many thousands,
whose feelings were powerfully excited on the occasion. At an early
period numbers came pressing in from various and distant parts of
the country, to witness the greatest and most gratifying assemblage
of Britons, that was ever recorded in the annuals of our history.
From Bolton, Oldham, Stockport, Middleton, and all the circumjacent
country; from the more distant towns of Leeds, Sheffield, etc. came
thousands of willing votaries to the shrine of sacred liberty; and
at the period when the Patriotic Mr. Hunt and his friends had taken
their station on the hustings, it is supposed that no less than 150,000
people were congregated in the area near St. Peter's Church.
Mr. Hunt ascended the hustings about half-past one o'clock, and after
a few preliminary arrangements, proceeded to address the immense multitude,
recommending peace and order for their government. Whilst thus engaged,
and without the shadow of disorder occurring or likely to occur, we
were surprised, though not alarmed, at perceiving a column of infantry
take possession of an opening in the assembly.
Our fears were raised to horror, by the appearance of the Manchester
and Salford Yeomanry Cavalry, who came galloping into the area, and
proceeded to form in line ready for action; nor were they long delayed
from their hellish purpose - the special constables were called in
from their previous stations - the bugle sounded the charge - and
a scene of murder and carnage ensued which posterity will hesitate
to believe, and which will hand down the authors and abettors of this
foul and bloody tragedy to the astonished world. Men, women, and children,
without distinction of age or sex became the victims of these monsters.
It is impossible for us to ascertain the extent of loss in lives and
limbs which has been thus wantonly and inhumanly occasioned - people
flew in every direction to avoid these hair-brained assassins, who
were supported by detachments from the 15th Hussars. The latter, however,
did not deal out death and wounds with the same liberal hand as our
townsmen.
(2) Advert for The
Peterloo Massacre: A Faithful Narrative of the Events
Just published No. 4, price twopence, of Peterloo Massacre, containing
a full, true, and faithful account of inhuman murders, woundings,
and other monstrous cruelties exercised by infernals (miscalled soldiers)
upon an unarmed and distressed people, who were constitutionally assembled
to consider of the best, most legal, and most efficient means of alleviating
their present unparalleled sufferings, when they were broken in upon
by bands of armed ruffians, who murdered many, and cut and maimed
hundreds more in a horrid manner.
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