Edward Oxford

In June 1840 Edward Oxford fired two shots at the carriage of Queen Victoria and her consort, Prince Albert (Roberts, 1981), although there was some doubt as to whether the pistols contained bullets or not.  Tried for treason, Oxford was found to be insane, and transferred to Bedlam (Tarlton Law Library, 2009), and later Broadmoor,  until 1867, when the Home Secretary offered him release on the proviso that he left the country and never returned (Berkshire Record Office, 2009; Stevens, 2011).  Oxford agreed to this and was transported to Australia, where he lived the remainder of his life as a house painter. Details of Oxford's trial can be viewed here:


Proceedings of the Old Bailey

"Edward Oxford Attempts to Assassinate Queen Victoria and Prince Albert" by C.I Doughty

Detail from an 1840 engraving by J. R. Jobbins of the assassination attempt.

Another contemporary engraving (artist unknown).

Edward Oxford in Australia

References:

Berkshire Record Office (2009). Broadmoor revealed: some patient stories – Edward Oxford. Retrieved from http://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk/documents/Edward_Oxford.pdf

Roberts, A. (1981). Mental health history timeline. Retrieved from http://www.studymore.org.uk/mhhtim.htm

Stevens, M. (2011). Broadmoor revealed: Victorian crime and the lunatic asylum. Reading, England: Berkshire Record Office. Retrieved from http://www.smashwords.com/books/download/71149/1/latest/0/0/broadmoor-revealed-victorian-crime-and-the-lunatic-asylum.pdf

Tarlton Law Library (2009). The complete Newgate calendar volume 5: Edward Oxford. Retrieved from http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/newgate5/oxford.htm