Today in History - May 29: Queen sets herself as bait to find would-be assassin

Queen Victoria was unharmed during the second assassination attempt on her life on May 29, 1842.

While riding in her carriage through London a young man aimed a pistol at her, but the gun did not fire.

When the would-be killer got away, the Queen took part in an incredibly brave plan to catch him.

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The very next day she took her carriage through the same route in the hope of baiting the mystery man.

The plot worked, and the gunman was able to fire a shot at her, but missed.

John Francis was seized by plainclothes policemen and convicted of high treason.

But Victoria intervened to halt his execution and he was instead sent to Tasmania as a convict.

Two days later the sentence was commuted, another man tried to shoot the Queen, the third of seven attempts on her life.

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Francis would go on to become a successful builder in Launceston.

During his career he built the Church of the Apostles, which still stands today.

Queen Victoria would face eight assassination attempts duing her life.

In the eighth attempt in 1882, Roderick Maclean sent the Queen some poetry, and was offended by the curt reply he received.

His shot missed, and the gun was snatched away by an Australian schoolboy.

For more from our Today in History archive, click here

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