Newport Rising

Newport Rising
The attack of the Chartists on the Westgate Hotel
Date 4 November 1839 Location Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales Result Rising defeated Rising leaders arrested
Belligerents
Chartists	Newport council Newport Borough Police British Army
Commanders and leaders
John Frost Zephaniah Williams William Jones	Thomas Phillips  (WIA)
Units involved
	45th Regiment of Foot
Strength
1,000–5,000	60 soldiers 500 special constables
Casualties and losses
10–24 dead 50+ wounded	4 wounded

The Newport Rising was the last large-scale armed rising in Wales, by Chartists whose demands included democracy and the right to vote with a secret ballot.

On Monday 4 November 1839, approximately 4,000 Chartist sympathisers, under the leadership of John Frost, marched on the town of Newport, Monmouthshire. En route, some Newport chartists were arrested by police and held prisoner at the Westgate Hotel in central Newport. Chartists from industrial towns outside of Newport, including many coal-miners, some with home-made arms, were intent on liberating their fellow Chartists. Fighting began, and soldiers of the 45th Regiment of Foot, deployed in the protection of the police, were ordered to open fire. Between 10 and 24 Chartists were confirmed killed, whilst reports of perhaps a further 50 injured. Four soldiers were reported as injured, as well as the mayor of Newport who was within the hotel. Subsequently, the leaders of the rising were convicted of treason and were sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. The sentences were later commuted to transportation.^[1]