History Daily - The Cato Street Conspiracy

Episode Date: February 23, 2026

February 23, 1820. An agent provocateur helps British police foil a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and his cabinet. This episode originally aired in 2023. Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more. History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.

Salku X, we're again. 5 numeroa, 5 vietta, Arvauksia, Patheria. Poweria. Palkintona X-Pengue,

Sacko, Towsin'omaxe. 10-weekquo-a-artka-Rex Pover.Pistefi-C. Don't get it to-gydista. It's the afternoon of December 2nd, 1816, in London, England, and a riot is in progress.

A mob rampages through the streets, breaking windows and robbing any well-dressed gentleman who crosses its path. Leading the charge is 42-year-old revolutionary Arthur Thistlewood. Earlier today, Arthur spoke at a radical political meeting where he whipped into a frenzy 10,000 working-class Londoners over their lack of voting rights. He declared his intention to riot

and invited the crowd to join him. Now Arthur watches, as those who did, cause kids in the streets of London. Eager to participate in the action, Arthur checks his pockets and discovers he only has a few spare musket balls left. So he raises his leg and kicks open the door of a nearby gunsmith shop. He pushes his way inside and points his pistol at the shocked storekeeper, ordering him to stay still. As Arthur stuffs his pockets with bullets, the storekeeper reaches behind the counter and pulls out his own gun. But Arthur notices him move, aims and fires.

Gunsmith slumps to the floor. But a flicker of movement catches Arthur's attention. He swings around guns still raised, but it's only rioters running past the shop windows, though in the wrong direction. Confused by their hasty flight, Arthur leaves the gunsmith's shop and steps back outside. Gunfire erupts from one end of the street, and Arthur turns his head to see armed soldiers from the Tower of London. He shouts at the rioters to stand their ground, but they continue to turn and run. Within seconds, the street is fully deserted, leaving Arthur standing alone, as soldiers order him to

drop his weapon and put his hands in the air. In the wake of the Spa Field Riot, as this uprising will come to be known, Arthur will be arrested as a ringleader. In the resulting trial, the prosecution's chief witness will be a government spy who had infiltrated the revolutionary circle, But given his murky occupation, the evidence he submits against the rioters will be deemed unreliable. Much of the jury will conclude that it's likely the spy was employed to incite the riot, and they will therefore find no reason to convict the revolutionaries for treason. Arthur's lucky acquittal will leave him free to engage in more political agitation, and his grievances against the British establishment will only escalate.

Three years after the Spa Fields riot, Arthur will scheme again, this time to assassinate the British Prime Minister and his cabinet. But another spy will foil the plot. This time, the espionage will not work in his favor, and Arthur will face the full wrath of the law after the Cato Street conspiracy collapses on February 23, 1820. I've discovered that I get a lot of good ideas from my live show right as I'm falling asleep.

Tucked in bed, lights out, warm and snug, that's when my brain decides to solve a problem or come up with something new. But have I been getting out of bed to jot these ideas down? No, I have not, and I know I've lost some good ones. So I've put a little pen and paper in the bathroom. This way, I can creep out of bed without turning on a light or reaching for my phone, because the only thing worse than losing an idea is waking up my wife. Well, there may be something worse, waiting to buy your tickets to the show in Dallas and realizing they're sold out. We've not sold out yet, but they are going fast. so buy yours today or to be the first to know when we announce new dates. Go to HistorydailyLive.com to register for details.

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for a while to code in the code in the power p.

X. Don't jay from Noiser and airship I'm Lindsay Graham

and this is History is made every day on this podcast every day we tell the

true stories of the people and events that shaped our world today is February

23 1820 the Kato Street Conspiracy it's January 29th

1820 in London, more than three years after the Spa Fields riot. Arthur Thistlewood leans forward and eyeballs the men seated at a table around him. Not a single one wavers as Arthur explains his plan to assassinate the Prime Minister and his cabinet. Since taking part in the Spa Fields riot, Arthur's desire for radical political reform has only become more radical. As it stands now, just 2% of the British population can vote in political elections, and the government is unwilling to consider any expansion of the franchise. Instead, they have remained openly hostile towards any calls for greater voter participation. Last year, 15 people were killed when cavalry charged a crowd of working-class men,

women, and children who gathered in Manchester for a rally demanding the vote. Rather than accept any wrongdoing for the massacre, the government passed a series of laws known as the Six Acts, suppressing similar political rallies. Arthur has decided to fight back. He wants to enact change through violent means, and in three days' time, he expects his plan to come to fruition. Arthur tells his fellow plotters

that they will meet here in their secret loft above the stables on Cato Street. Then they will proceed to a townhouse in Grovenor Square owned by Lord Heroby, a member of the Prime Minister Lord Liverpool's Tory government. There they will murder the entire cabinet while the politicians are at dinner, And with the Prime Minister dead, Arthur will set up a committee to purge the old regime

and form a new government that serves the people and not just the rich. Arthur pauses, waiting for the men in the room to give their assent. But no one speaks as they all listen to a slow and monotonous church bell, ringing constantly and ominously in the distance. The conspirators exchanged questioning glances. The church bells should not be ringing. And when they do like this, it's usually in alarm. Then the men hear footsteps approaching, and Arthur wonders if the plot has been discovered.

The footsteps grow nearer, but instead of the authorities, it's the surprise arrival of another conspirator, with an alarming message. King George III is dead. Arthur is crestfallen. He has no love for the monarch and his riches, when ordinary Englishmen cannot afford to eat, but the king's death does pose an inconvenient complication. The government will now go into mourning, which means that the dinner at Lord Hessexie. Harrowby's house will be canceled. With their plan foiled, Arthur assures the conspirators that they will try again, but he's not aware that one of the men in the loft will soon report every incriminating word to the highest levels of the British government. Two days after the king's

passing, this turncoat accomplice, George Edwards, is shown into the office of Lord Sidmouth, the home secretary. As an undercover agent, George is here to report the Cato Street conspiracy to one of the men who would have been killed if the plot were successful. successful. Sidmouth is pleased with George's work, but he can't help regretting that the king's death has robbed them of the chance to catch the conspirators red-handed. He was excited to see the outcry that would follow the dramatic last-minute reveal of a murderous plot, confident that the government could use the resulting turmoil to pass even more draconian laws and eliminate these radicals and their demands forever. But now they have to find a new plan. George clears his throat and

suggests an idea. Lord Harrowby must host a new dinner when the period of morning is over, in say, three weeks. If it's mentioned in the society pages of London's newspapers, George can show it to Arthur and convince him to resume the plot then. The conspirators can be apprehended on the day of the attack. Sidmouth claps his hands with glee and then says he has an idea to make the plan even better. To prevent any chances of a successful assassination, the prime minister and cabinet do not even need to be at Lord Harrowby's. The plotters only need to think that they are. With a grin, Sidmouth picks up a pen and paper,

ready to plant a story in the London Times and set the plot in motion. Back on Cato Street, George will feed Arthur the story about the rearranged cabinet dinner and the Cato Street conspiracy will be resurrected. In the coming weeks, George will transform from a mere spy to an agent provocateur, encouraging and aiding the plotters in their illegal endeavor. But he will need to avoid arousing the plotter's suspicion for another three tense weeks before he can ensnare them in his trap. Cato Street conspiracy will collapse.

39-year-old William Davidson knocks at a townhouse in Grovenor Square. His face lights up as one of Lord Herobie's servants opens the door and welcomes him in. William, a skilled cabinetmaker, has fallen on hard times and has been forced to take on menial repair jobs, including at Lord Harrowby's house. But William is hiding a secret. He isn't just a handyman. He's one of the Cato Street conspirators. A week ago, ringleader Arthur Thistlewood summoned his

followers to deliver good news. The plot was back on. He presented them with a copy of the Times and pointed to a story in the paper saying that Prime Minister and his cabinet would hold a dinner meeting at Lord Harrowbe's the following week. A delighted Arthur said there was no need to change any part of their old plan. They could proceed exactly as they intended a month ago. So now William is here at Lord Harrowby's house to survey the scene of the upcoming assassination attempt. As he enters the house, William tries to commit its layout to memory. The servant leads him to the kitchen where she thrusts a cup of tea into William's hands. He politely thanks her and asks whether Lord Herobie has any more repair jobs that need his attention. The servant shakes her head. Nothing needs to be

fixed, nor is Lord Herribee even home. He's visiting his estate at Burton in Gloucestershire. This puts a frown on William's face. Burnt Norton is 100 miles from London. He doesn't understand how Lord Herobie will make it back in time for the dinner. William tries to act casual when he asks when Lord Herobie will return for his dinner with the prime minister. But the servant doesn't know anything about any dinner, and certainly not one with the prime minister. William doesn't know what to make of the servant's revelation, but he knows he needs to report it to Arthur as soon as he can. Later that day, the conspirators assemble at their Cato Street hideout. William pulls Arthur to one side and explains there is no dinner at Lord Harrowby's house tomorrow night.

is confused, but police informant George Edwards overhears and appears at Arthur's shoulder, reassuring them that the servant must be mistaken. After all, the dinner is announced in the newspaper. William shakes his head, unconvinced, and feeling that George is acting shifty. But throughout the rest of the night's planning, George manages to avoid arousing any further suspicion. The following evening, he's able to slip away from his other conspirators and secretly rendezvous with a local magistrate. He reports that the conspirator, are arming themselves in the Cato Street loft, and they'll be setting off for Lord Harrowby's house in Grovenor Square in the next few minutes.

The magistrate nods, but takes no action. George repeats himself trying to convey the urgency of the situation, but the magistrate brushes him off, explaining that he needs more soldiers to arrive before he can arrest the conspirators. All he has now are 12 men from the Bose Street Runners, the name of the police force in this part of London. George looks over at these officers, lounging around him. horrified by their nonchalance.

Again, he declares that the plot is about to begin. Even if the prime minister is nowhere near Grovenor Square, the servants have not been cleared from Lord Harrowby's house, and nobody knows what Arthur's armed band will do when they realize their plot has been foiled. George continues to plead with the magistrate to raid the loft now before the conspirators leave. Magistrate hesitates and finally agrees.

George picks up a sword and joins the Beau Street runners as they crowd into the street. Though they will be outnumbered by the Cato Street conspirators, the element of surprise will work in their favor. The plotters will be defeated, and Arthur's plan to assassinate the prime minister and overthrow the government

will soon be foiled. We'll soon be foiled. Tapaamme yet. Visi numeroa. Five vhietta. Arvauksia. Parenthood. Palkintona X-Pengue's Sackcoe

Towsin'emak. It's 7.5 p.m.com at 10.5.5.X. Don't jade cune. It's 7.30 p.m. on February 23, 1820, at the conspirators' base in Cato Street, minutes after George Edwards informed a magistrate that the plot is about to begin. Inside the busy loft, the conspirators ready themselves for the attack on Lord Heriby's house. Arthur Thistlewood picks up a flintlocked pistol from a table full of weapons, and tests its weight in his hands.

But before he is a chance to prime the gun with powder, a man rushes through the doorway wearing a blue great coat and top hat. Arthur's heart sinks at the sight of the Bow Street Runner's uniform. As he reels from the surprise, he receives another shock. Behind the onslaught of officers is George Edwards with a sword in hand. Arthur glares at the traitor and reaches for his own blade. A police officer commands him to lay down his arms,

but Arthur refuses. He's already been betrayed. He has no intention of being arrested, too. One of the officers raises his pistol and orders Arthur to lower his sword. But Arthur refuses, stepping forward quickly and plunging the blade into the officer's chest. Before the other Bow Street runners can react,

Arthur breaks the room's lantern, plunging the loft into darkness. From a corner, he listens to the sound of a scuffle, punctuated by the occasional flash of a gun firing. Then a silence descends on the room. One of the conspirators asks what's happening. Another answers in a whisper that the Bow Street runners have retreated. Hearing this, Arthur creeps over to a window where he's stashed a rope ladder for emergencies.

He eases the window open and climbs out, quietly dropping to the ground and dashing into the distance. But Arthur's time on the run doesn't last long. The very next morning, he's picked up by the Bow Street Runners after being discovered hiding in the house of an accomplice. Just like with the Spa Fields riot, Arthur will be arrested due to the actions of a police spy. Only this time Arthur will receive no sympathy in court. Despite some reservations about the use of an agent provocateur,

the judge and jury will declare Arthur guilty of treason, earning Arthur a sentence of death and a public hanging for his role in the failed plot to assassinate. the Prime Minister and his entire cabinet on February 23, 1820. Next on History Daily, February 24, 1868, the U.S. House of Representatives moves to impeach Andrew Johnson, making him the first president impeached in U.S. history. From Noisor and Airship, this is History Daily, hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsay Graham, audio editing by Molly Bach, sound design by Derek Barrens, music by Lindsay

Graham. This episode is written in research by Scott Reeves, produced by Alexandra Curry Buckner. Executive producers are Stephen Walters for airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser. Vizabeth, a rvauxhalluxia, power, Palkintona X-Bengue's Sacko Auto, Towsin'omax. 10-weekquo-a-rata write outkaider in Codew,

Couttax. Don't jay,