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Hutton and the Priestley Riots
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Chapter 6 revisits the Priestley riots (1791) from the viewpoint of a victim, and finds causes concerning the wealth and power of rough diamonds. Birmingham’s print culture and attitudes to law also caused problems, as shown in hostility to Hutton’s role as a magistrate without legal training. Priestley’s influence on religious and political disputes is well known, but Hutton’s actions also triggered violence. His unpublished ‘Narrative of the Riots’ places him at the riots’ centre, and suggests an individual life can address larger questions. His story reveals unexpected self-education amidst industrialization, social mobility alongside poverty, and personal freedom amongst stark limits. The rags-to-riches tale of Hutton and Birmingham is widely admired. But the town’s fabled harmony was accompanied by conflict, and Hutton was never fully accepted. Despite his magnificent achievements, fear of the social mobility of rough diamonds persisted. Since he flaunted his ascent, no one could forget or forgive him. As he crossed the line between workers and masters, he sealed his own fate.
Title: Hutton and the Priestley Riots
Description:
Chapter 6 revisits the Priestley riots (1791) from the viewpoint of a victim, and finds causes concerning the wealth and power of rough diamonds.
Birmingham’s print culture and attitudes to law also caused problems, as shown in hostility to Hutton’s role as a magistrate without legal training.
Priestley’s influence on religious and political disputes is well known, but Hutton’s actions also triggered violence.
His unpublished ‘Narrative of the Riots’ places him at the riots’ centre, and suggests an individual life can address larger questions.
His story reveals unexpected self-education amidst industrialization, social mobility alongside poverty, and personal freedom amongst stark limits.
The rags-to-riches tale of Hutton and Birmingham is widely admired.
But the town’s fabled harmony was accompanied by conflict, and Hutton was never fully accepted.
Despite his magnificent achievements, fear of the social mobility of rough diamonds persisted.
Since he flaunted his ascent, no one could forget or forgive him.
As he crossed the line between workers and masters, he sealed his own fate.
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