The execution of John Baird and Andrew Hardie – 8th September 1820
Today, we commemorate the brave sacrifice made by John Baird and Andrew Hardie, who stood up for the rights of the common man 200 years ago. Baird and Hardie were […]
Public executions
The execution of Baird and Hardie – publicity
This letter, written on the 6th September 1820, two days before the execution, is to William Galbraith from John Wright of the Glasgow Chronicle, asking that he be secured a […]
The execution of Baird and Hardie – a job done
William Galbraith comes across as a cold-hearted individual in this letter, describing his game of chess and fretting about legal documents in between the discussion of the final arrangments for […]
The execution of Baird and Hardie – the need for secrecy
On the 4th September 1820, William Galbraith is writing to Alexander Littlejohn about finalising the arrangements for engaging the hangman and decapitator. he is to meet the medical student that […]
The execution of Baird and Hardie – the executioner is engaged
Both Clerks wrote to each other on the 3rd September 1820, Galbraith was still in Edinburgh chasing his ex-soldier to see if he would act as executioner. Meanwhile, Littlejohn was […]
The execution of Baird and Hardie – Negotiations in Edinburgh
On the 2nd September 1820, William Galbraith is still in Edinburgh trying to find a cheaper hangman than the one available in Glasgow. He has been unable to track down […]
September 2020 – The Radical Uprising – the Execution of John Baird and Andrew Hardie
September’s Document of the Month commemorates the sacrifice made by two of the men who were involved in what we now call the Radical Uprising of 1820. John Baird and […]
The execution of Baird and Hardie – value for money
On the 1st September 1820, William Galbraith, one of the two Town Clerks of Stirling, is in Edinburgh doing his best to try to find someone who will perform the […]
The execution of Baird and Hardie – the question of decapitation
One of the most unsettling items in the bundle of letters held at the Archives is a memorandum on the subject of how best to go about removing the head […]
The Execution of Baird and Hardie – Finding an executioner
Authorisation to Alexander Littlejohn, Town Clerk of Stirling to engage an executioner for the execution of Hardie, Baird and Clelland, 30th August 1820. Stirling 30th August 1820 We hereby authorise […]