Fan, commemorative fan

This fan commemorates George III surviving an assassination attempt at the Drury Lane Theatre in 1800. The printed leaves produced for fans like this often illustrated current events. The King's would-be assassin, James Hatfield (also spelt Hadfield), was a veteran of the war with revolutionary France. He sustained serious head injuries at the Battle of Roubaix and was captured by the French. Upon his release, Hatfield returned to England whereupon he fell under the influence of a millenarian cult. He was convinced that if he was executed for treason then his Christ-like sacrifice would herald the Second Coming.

On the evening of the 15th May 1800 Hatfield attended a royal performance at Drury Lane. When the audience rose to their feet for the National Anthem he fired his pistol at the royal box. He was placed on trial for high treason, but was acquitted on the grounds of insanity. He was defended by the famous lawyer Thomas Erskine who succeeded in convincing the court that Hatfield was delusional. The judgement established a new legal precedent. On the fan leaf bust portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte appear beneath a protective angel in the centre. On the left Hatfield is illustrated firing on the royal box at Drury Lane. On the right the wounded Hatfield is being captured at Roubaix.