The Last Men Executed in Britain for Homosexuality

Dan Snow's History Hit

History Hit

History

4.7 • 12.9K Ratings

🗓️ 19 February 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Why was Georgian Britain's penal code so bloodthirsty when it came to homosexuality? Was Britain unusually cruel in this regard? And does this animosity persist to the present day? For LGBT+ History Month, we hear the story of James Pratt and John Smith, the last two men executed for homosexuality in Britain.

Dan is joined by politician and historian Christ Bryant MP, who takes us back to 1830s Britain and puts us at the centre of this controversial trial.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Anisha Deva.

Don’t miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code DANSNOW sign up now for your 14-day free trial https://historyhit/subscription/.

We'd love to hear from you! You can email the podcast at [email protected].

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Fashion, it's a fickle game. Some things in, then it's out. But real style is always
0:06.8	invoke. So why not choose the iconic Fiat 500 for just 199 pounds a month plus an initial rental of 999 pounds.
0:17.6	The Fiat 500 in budget and always in style.
0:21.8	Personal Contractor on Fiat 500 Mild Hybrid 1-70 horse-bar hatchback.
0:25.4	Tease and see, subject to state an availability, 18-plus.
0:27.7	You will not own the car.
0:28.6	Stilanta's Financial Services.
0:30.6	Madama Butterfly, the Royal Opera House's critically acclaimed production of Puccini's best-known masterpiece,
0:38.0	a tragedy of longing, hope and heartbreak.
0:42.0	A beautiful performance.
0:45.0	Five stars says the Daily Express.
0:48.0	Madonna Butterfly at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden,
0:51.0	from the 14th of March to the 18th of July. Tickets from just 13
0:56.2	pounds visit Roach.org. UK.
0:59.6	Hi everybody welcome to Dan Snow's history hit. In 1835 a young Charles Dickens visited
1:09.6	the horrific prison in London, Newgate prison. He described the disgusting conditions in the
1:16.0	prison which were themselves a danger to life and he then talks about two particular
1:21.6	inmates that he was very struck by.
1:24.0	They had nothing to expect from the mercy of the crown.
1:26.6	Their doom was sealed.
1:28.5	No plea could be urged an extenuation of their crime, and they knew well that for them there was no hope in this world.
1:36.8	The two hopeless men that Charles Dickens were describing were James Pratt and John Smith. They were in this dreadful prison, in the shadow of the hang
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from History Hit, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of History Hit and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.