Editing Gordon Riots (section)

== Event ==
On the 2nd of June 1780, Lord Gordon assembled a crowd of about 50,000 militant Protestants at St George's Fields and led them to London. When they reached the capital, they attempted to force their way into the House of Commons, with Gordon leading the charge, holding a petition demanding the repeal of the Papists Act. A detachment of soldiers dispersed the mob, and the petition, which Gordon had handed over, was rejected by Parliament.

However, another mob soon formed in Lincoln's Inn Fields, a district in London, and attacked the Sardinian Roman Catholic Embassy. Police were dispatched and thirteen of the rioters were arrested. Another mob formed in Warwick Street and tore down a Catholic chapel. Other mobs wrecked areas known to house rich Catholics, destroying the areas regardless of whether or not they hurt non-Catholics in the process. Moorfield, one of the poorest areas of London, was attacked by a mob, which rampaged through the streets burning and destroying buildings. Newgate Prison and another London prison, The Clink, were destroyed and the prisoners broken out. Catholic places of worship were destroyed, and on "Black Wednesday", the riots reached their peak. The military were deployed to defend what was left of London. The rioters tried to attack the Bank of England, but the military held them off. The riots eventually dispersed after the military killed 285 rioters and captured 450.