Remembering the Radical War

TODAY (Friday 8 April 2022) marks the anniversary of the Radical War which took place in Greenock 202 years ago killing eight and injuring many more.

Also known as the ‘Scottish Insurrection’, soldiers opened fire on a crowd who tried to free impoverished anti-government protesters being escorted to Greenock jail on 8 April 1820.

A wreath and flowers were laid at the Radical War memorial in Greenock to mark the 200th anniversary
Radical War Memorial, Greenock.

Eight people were killed, including an eight-year-old boy and a man aged 65 – the youngest and oldest victims, and a further 10 were seriously injured. 

They were: James McGilp, eight; William Lindsay, 15; James Kerr, 17; Archibald Drummond, 20; John Boyce, 33; Adam Clephane, 48; John MacWhinnie, 65; and Archibald McKinnon, 17, who died from his wounds on 5 May 1820.

The names of all the victims and the words ‘remember the 8th of April, that bloody day when many were wounded and carried away’ are inscribed along the wall at Bank Street, near to where the jail was located in 1820, next to a permanent memorial, pictured in 2020, which was installed in 2015.

The Radical War is regarded by many as the starting point of trade unionism in Scotland.

Today we rememeber the victims of the Radical War. 

Find out more about the Radical War by clicking on the link in the 'Related Links' section of this page.