Historedia
Person

Benjamin Spencer

Events
1
Episodes
5
Years
1787–1791

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Benjamin Spencer, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Priestley Riots in Birmingham

    1787–1791

    Role: Local minister; likely organiser, if a concerted Anglican elite effort existed

    1. 1787–1790 · BirminghamDissenter agitation for repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts

      Birmingham Dissenters' campaigns to repeal the Test and Corporation Acts, failing in 1787, 1789, and 1790, fractured the town elite before the riots.

    2. Summer 1791 · BirminghamPlanned Warwickshire Constitutional Society

      In summer 1791, Priestley and friends planned a radical Warwickshire Constitutional Society seeking electoral reform, matching societies in Chester and Manchester.

    3. 14 July 1791 · Royal Hotel, BirminghamAttack on the Royal Hotel banquet

      The riots began with an attack on the Royal Hotel, site of a banquet publicising diners' support for the French Revolutionaries to enhance Anglo-French trade.

    4. 14–17 July 1791 · Birmingham, Warwickshire, EnglandThree days of rioting against Dissenters

      From 14 to 17 July 1791, rioters targeted Birmingham's religious dissenters, most notably Joseph Priestley, amid local and national grievances.

    5. 14–17 July 1791 · BirminghamGovernment response to Dissenters' pleas

      The riots were not initiated by Prime Minister William Pitt's administration, but the national government has been suggested to have been slow to respond to Dissenters' pleas for help.

Sources

  1. Priestley Riots Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-14