Teas and Talks: The Portland Massacre with Jeff Little

This talk will describe the events of 02 April 1803 when the Royal Navy vessel HMS Aigle sent a pressgang of around 50 sailors and marines to Portland to seize an additional 10 new sailors by force.  The Portlanders, some 300 stonemasons, fishermen and their families resisted this advance and bravely defended their men.  Scuffles broke out and the Captain fired his pistol to retore order.  The marines, however, opened fire resulting in casualties with 3 men dead and one lady fatally wounded who died days later.  A story of a community, bonded by trust clashing with a force desperate for additional manpower during Napoleon’s advances in Europe.