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Daniel M'Naghten |
The second series of the television programme "
Victoria" ended on Sunday 15th October. (There is to be an extra episode at Christmas). At times, the series touched upon some of the great issues of those days.
Victoria (1819-1901) was Queen from June 1837 until her death on 22nd January 1901. The final episode of Series 2 touched upon the Parliamentary struggle for the repeal of the "
Corn Laws" which prevented imports of grain and therefore had come to protect wealthy landowners. A poem of the time summarised the situation: "Ye coop us up, and tax our bread, And wonder why we pine; But ye are fat, and round, and red, And fill'd with tax-bought wine."
The Corn Laws were repealed during the premiership of
Robert Peel (1788-1850). Peel's private secretary was the civil servant
Edward Drummond (1792-1843). Drummond was shot by
Daniel M'Naghten (1813-1865) whose name still lives on in English criminal law due to the much-criticised
M'Naghten Rules which set out the requirements to establish a defence of "insanity." Drummond was actually shot from behind and he died of complications which arose following surgery to remove the "leaden bullet" fired from M'Naghten's gun.