Atterbury Plot
Failed Government Overthrow Conspiracy
CLASSIFICATION: Terrorism
LOCATION
Great Britain
TIME PERIOD
1721-1722
VICTIMS
0 confirmed
The case involves the Atterbury Plot, a failed conspiracy to restore the House of Stuart to the British throne, orchestrated by Francis Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, and several co-conspirators including Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery, and Lord North and Grey. The plot unfolded between 1721 and 1722, primarily in London, during a period of significant unpopularity for the Hanoverian government following the economic turmoil caused by the South Sea Bubble. The conspiracy was ultimately thwarted in 1722 when key conspirators were charged with treason, although evidence was limited, leading to Atterbury's exile rather than prosecution. Investigators uncovered correspondence linking Atterbury to the Jacobite cause, highlighting the plot as a major threat to the Hanoverian regime during that era.
The Atterbury Plot is believed to have been fueled by widespread dissatisfaction with the Hanoverian government, leading to speculation that the conspirators hoped to rally public support for the Stuart restoration. Some theorize that the failure of previous Jacobite risings influenced Atterbury and his associates to adopt more covert methods, while others suggest that internal disagreements among the conspirators contributed to the plot's collapse. Additionally, there is speculation that Atterbury's exile was part of a larger strategy to maintain a network of support for future Jacobite efforts.
The Atterbury Plot: A Tale of Treachery and Ambition
A Conspiracy Unveiled
In the shadowy corridors of 18th-century British politics, a plan unfolded that threatened the very heart of the nation. Known as the Atterbury Plot, this conspiracy aimed to topple the reigning government and restore the House of Stuart to the throne of Great Britain. Orchestrated between 1721 and 1722, it was the brainchild of Francis Atterbury, the Bishop of Rochester and Dean of Westminster. This ambitious scheme emerged years after the failed Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1719, during a period when the Whig-led government under the new Hanoverian king was deeply unpopular.
The Cast of Conspirators
Francis Atterbury was not alone in this daring venture. He was joined by a motley crew of co-conspirators, including Charles Boyle, the 4th Earl of Orrery; Lord North and Grey; Sir Henry Goring; Christopher Layer; John Plunket; and George Kelly. These individuals, driven by ambition and a shared disdain for the Hanoverian rule, plotted what would later be deemed the most significant threat to the Hanoverians between the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745.
The Seeds of Dissent
Atterbury's journey to treason began with his deep roots in Tory politics and the High Church party. His involvement in the explosive defense of Henry Sacheverell in 1710 marked the start of his rise. When the political tides turned, Queen Anne appointed him as her chief church adviser, and by 1713, he was the Bishop of Rochester and Dean of Westminster Abbey. But the death of Queen Anne in 1714 dashed his hopes, as he dreaded the Hanoverian succession.
Despite taking an oath of allegiance to George I, Atterbury's opposition to the new government grew. He communicated indirectly with the Pretender's family and refused to align publicly with the Protestant accession during the Jacobite rising of 1715. By 1717, after many Jacobites were released from prison, Atterbury began direct correspondence with James Francis Edward Stuart, plotting a coup d'état to capture the royal family and proclaim James III king.
A Climate of Opportunity
The political landscape of 1720, marred by the Bubble Act and the collapse of the South Sea Company, left the Whig government in disarray. Many investors, including those from the ruling class, suffered heavy losses. It was amid this turmoil that Atterbury saw an opportunity. He conspired with the exiled John Erskine, Duke of Mar, who had served as the Pretender's Secretary of State, to exploit the government's vulnerability.
The Plan Unfolds
In 1721, the conspirators plotted a new Jacobite rising to coincide with the 1722 general election, foreseen due to the Septennial Act of 1716. Goring, seeking election as MP for Steyning in Sussex, wrote to the Pretender in March 1721, detailing a plan to restore the Stuarts with the aid of Irish exile troops led by the Duke of Ormonde and Lieutenant-General Dillon from France.
Christopher Layer, a barrister and legal advisor to Lord North and Grey, met fellow plotters at an inn in Stratford-le-Bow. By the summer of 1721, he had recruited soldiers from Romford and Leytonstone. Layer traveled to Rome to present the plot to the Pretender, assuring royal favor if successful. The plan involved recruiting soldiers to seize key institutions in London and capturing the royal family, while English Tories would secure their regions and march on the city, aided by Irish Brigade volunteers from France.
The Plot Unravels
The conspiracy began to crumble in the spring of 1722, coinciding with the death of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, on April 19. The Duke of Orleans, Regent of France, informed Robert Walpole's Secretary of State, Carteret, that the Jacobites had requested French military support for a coup in May. The French refused, moving their Irish Brigade away from Dunkirk and denying the Duke of Ormonde passage to a channel port.
The Jacobites' lack of funds led to insufficient arms, and Mar criticized Goring's ineffectiveness. Walpole's agents scrambled to gather evidence against suspected Jacobites, but found little. Nevertheless, arrests were ordered: Arran, Strafford, Orrery, North and Grey, Goring, Atterbury, George Kelly, and Layer. On August 24, 1722, Atterbury was charged with treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London alongside Orrery. The Habeas Corpus Act was suspended on October 17.
Goring fled to France on August 23, avoiding capture until his death in 1731. At his trial, it was revealed that he attempted to recruit a gang of brandy smugglers for the invasion, prompting government action against smuggling.
Layer was arrested, and his trial began on November 21, 1722, under Lord Chief Justice John Pratt. Compromising documents, including a plot outline found with brothel-keeper Elizabeth Mason, sealed his fate. The jury found Layer guilty of high treason, and he was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. Despite delays, hoping for information, Layer was executed on May 17, 1723.
The Aftermath
Atterbury's cautious correspondence with Jacobites couldn't secure a conviction. Instead, Parliament passed a Pains and Penalties Bill, stripping him of his church roles, exiling him for life, and forbidding communication. The bill passed on May 15, 1723, just before Layer's execution. On June 18, Atterbury went into exile in France.
Orrery spent six months in the Tower before being released on bail due to insufficient evidence. Plunkett and Kelly lost their estates. Lord Stafford faced suspicion but no action, while those who could incriminate Lord North and Grey remained silent.
In January 1723, a secret parliamentary committee investigated the Plot, reporting in March. The Papists Act 1722 required landowners to swear allegiance by Christmas 1723, with non-compliance risking estate forfeiture.
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First Jacobite Rising
The first major Jacobite uprising aimed at restoring the House of Stuart.
Second Jacobite Rising
A second attempt to restore the Stuart monarchy, which also failed.
Conspiracy Planned
Sir Henry Goring writes to the Pretender proposing a plan for a Stuart restoration.
Plot Collapse Begins
Death of Charles Spencer leads to the exposure of the Jacobite plot.
Atterbury Arrested
Francis Atterbury is arrested and charged with treason.
Habeas Corpus Suspended
The Habeas Corpus Act is suspended, allowing for detentions without trial.
Layer's Trial Begins
Christopher Layer's trial for high treason begins in the Court of King's Bench.
Atterbury Exiled
Parliament enacts a bill to remove Atterbury from his positions and banish him.
Layer Executed
Christopher Layer is executed at Tyburn for high treason.
The case involves the Atterbury Plot, a failed conspiracy to restore the House of Stuart to the British throne, orchestrated by Francis Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, and several co-conspirators including Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery, and Lord North and Grey. The plot unfolded between 1721 and 1722, primarily in London, during a period of significant unpopularity for the Hanoverian government following the economic turmoil caused by the South Sea Bubble. The conspiracy was ultimately thwarted in 1722 when key conspirators were charged with treason, although evidence was limited, leading to Atterbury's exile rather than prosecution. Investigators uncovered correspondence linking Atterbury to the Jacobite cause, highlighting the plot as a major threat to the Hanoverian regime during that era.
The Atterbury Plot is believed to have been fueled by widespread dissatisfaction with the Hanoverian government, leading to speculation that the conspirators hoped to rally public support for the Stuart restoration. Some theorize that the failure of previous Jacobite risings influenced Atterbury and his associates to adopt more covert methods, while others suggest that internal disagreements among the conspirators contributed to the plot's collapse. Additionally, there is speculation that Atterbury's exile was part of a larger strategy to maintain a network of support for future Jacobite efforts.
The Atterbury Plot: A Tale of Treachery and Ambition
A Conspiracy Unveiled
In the shadowy corridors of 18th-century British politics, a plan unfolded that threatened the very heart of the nation. Known as the Atterbury Plot, this conspiracy aimed to topple the reigning government and restore the House of Stuart to the throne of Great Britain. Orchestrated between 1721 and 1722, it was the brainchild of Francis Atterbury, the Bishop of Rochester and Dean of Westminster. This ambitious scheme emerged years after the failed Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1719, during a period when the Whig-led government under the new Hanoverian king was deeply unpopular.
The Cast of Conspirators
Francis Atterbury was not alone in this daring venture. He was joined by a motley crew of co-conspirators, including Charles Boyle, the 4th Earl of Orrery; Lord North and Grey; Sir Henry Goring; Christopher Layer; John Plunket; and George Kelly. These individuals, driven by ambition and a shared disdain for the Hanoverian rule, plotted what would later be deemed the most significant threat to the Hanoverians between the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745.
The Seeds of Dissent
Atterbury's journey to treason began with his deep roots in Tory politics and the High Church party. His involvement in the explosive defense of Henry Sacheverell in 1710 marked the start of his rise. When the political tides turned, Queen Anne appointed him as her chief church adviser, and by 1713, he was the Bishop of Rochester and Dean of Westminster Abbey. But the death of Queen Anne in 1714 dashed his hopes, as he dreaded the Hanoverian succession.
Despite taking an oath of allegiance to George I, Atterbury's opposition to the new government grew. He communicated indirectly with the Pretender's family and refused to align publicly with the Protestant accession during the Jacobite rising of 1715. By 1717, after many Jacobites were released from prison, Atterbury began direct correspondence with James Francis Edward Stuart, plotting a coup d'état to capture the royal family and proclaim James III king.
A Climate of Opportunity
The political landscape of 1720, marred by the Bubble Act and the collapse of the South Sea Company, left the Whig government in disarray. Many investors, including those from the ruling class, suffered heavy losses. It was amid this turmoil that Atterbury saw an opportunity. He conspired with the exiled John Erskine, Duke of Mar, who had served as the Pretender's Secretary of State, to exploit the government's vulnerability.
The Plan Unfolds
In 1721, the conspirators plotted a new Jacobite rising to coincide with the 1722 general election, foreseen due to the Septennial Act of 1716. Goring, seeking election as MP for Steyning in Sussex, wrote to the Pretender in March 1721, detailing a plan to restore the Stuarts with the aid of Irish exile troops led by the Duke of Ormonde and Lieutenant-General Dillon from France.
Christopher Layer, a barrister and legal advisor to Lord North and Grey, met fellow plotters at an inn in Stratford-le-Bow. By the summer of 1721, he had recruited soldiers from Romford and Leytonstone. Layer traveled to Rome to present the plot to the Pretender, assuring royal favor if successful. The plan involved recruiting soldiers to seize key institutions in London and capturing the royal family, while English Tories would secure their regions and march on the city, aided by Irish Brigade volunteers from France.
The Plot Unravels
The conspiracy began to crumble in the spring of 1722, coinciding with the death of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, on April 19. The Duke of Orleans, Regent of France, informed Robert Walpole's Secretary of State, Carteret, that the Jacobites had requested French military support for a coup in May. The French refused, moving their Irish Brigade away from Dunkirk and denying the Duke of Ormonde passage to a channel port.
The Jacobites' lack of funds led to insufficient arms, and Mar criticized Goring's ineffectiveness. Walpole's agents scrambled to gather evidence against suspected Jacobites, but found little. Nevertheless, arrests were ordered: Arran, Strafford, Orrery, North and Grey, Goring, Atterbury, George Kelly, and Layer. On August 24, 1722, Atterbury was charged with treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London alongside Orrery. The Habeas Corpus Act was suspended on October 17.
Goring fled to France on August 23, avoiding capture until his death in 1731. At his trial, it was revealed that he attempted to recruit a gang of brandy smugglers for the invasion, prompting government action against smuggling.
Layer was arrested, and his trial began on November 21, 1722, under Lord Chief Justice John Pratt. Compromising documents, including a plot outline found with brothel-keeper Elizabeth Mason, sealed his fate. The jury found Layer guilty of high treason, and he was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. Despite delays, hoping for information, Layer was executed on May 17, 1723.
The Aftermath
Atterbury's cautious correspondence with Jacobites couldn't secure a conviction. Instead, Parliament passed a Pains and Penalties Bill, stripping him of his church roles, exiling him for life, and forbidding communication. The bill passed on May 15, 1723, just before Layer's execution. On June 18, Atterbury went into exile in France.
Orrery spent six months in the Tower before being released on bail due to insufficient evidence. Plunkett and Kelly lost their estates. Lord Stafford faced suspicion but no action, while those who could incriminate Lord North and Grey remained silent.
In January 1723, a secret parliamentary committee investigated the Plot, reporting in March. The Papists Act 1722 required landowners to swear allegiance by Christmas 1723, with non-compliance risking estate forfeiture.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Jacobite Rising
The first major Jacobite uprising aimed at restoring the House of Stuart.
Second Jacobite Rising
A second attempt to restore the Stuart monarchy, which also failed.
Conspiracy Planned
Sir Henry Goring writes to the Pretender proposing a plan for a Stuart restoration.
Plot Collapse Begins
Death of Charles Spencer leads to the exposure of the Jacobite plot.
Atterbury Arrested
Francis Atterbury is arrested and charged with treason.
Habeas Corpus Suspended
The Habeas Corpus Act is suspended, allowing for detentions without trial.
Layer's Trial Begins
Christopher Layer's trial for high treason begins in the Court of King's Bench.
Atterbury Exiled
Parliament enacts a bill to remove Atterbury from his positions and banish him.
Layer Executed
Christopher Layer is executed at Tyburn for high treason.