Eyewitness Accounts

To commemorate the 200 year anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre the Peterloo 2019 Ambassadors have worked in partnership with Professor Robert Poole (University of Central Lancashire), author of Peterloo: the English Uprising and the Age of Revolution at University of Kent to compile the 400+ eyewitness accounts which include press reports and petitions.

This is the first time the original accounts have been compiled into an online archive. You can now use the website to search by name, place and role and learn more about the eyewitness accounts from 1819.

William Jolliffe Eyewitness Account

Later an MP, William Jolliffe was a Lieutenant of the 15th Hussars on 1819 and took part in the charge towards the hustings. Letter published twenty-five years after the event, in the Life of Lord Sidmouth by Dean Pellew.

Occupation: Lieutenant (15th Hussars),MP

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Henry Hunt Eyewitness Account

An account from Henry Hunt’s memoirs concerning the events of 16th August witnessed from the hustings, and his subsequent arrest.

Place: Hampshire
Role: Demonstrator
Occupation: Gentleman Farmer,Political Reformer

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Joseph Healey Eyewitness Account

Demonstrator who was on the hustings on 16th August, and was injured by both the yeomanry and cavalry. Was arrested the following day at his home.

Place: Lees,Oldham
Role: Demonstrator
Occupation: Surgeon

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Edward Baines Eyewitness Account

Reporter who was close to Henry Hunt during the speech on St Peter’s Field. States that meeting was peaceable and that Hunt exhorted the crowd not to resist the yeomanry.