Dennis Collins

Reports from the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette Thursday, March 28th, 1833 Denis Collins, the old pensioner who threw a stone at his Majesty, is ordered to be transported for life - so that the poor old man will have the satisfaction of being once more on the element on which he passed so many years of his life. During his confinement at Reading gaol, his personal appearance had undergone considerable alteration. He had become considerably stouter, and his rough, hard looking, weather beaten countenance had assumed a florid complexion and a plumpness which destroyed much of the marked character of his features. His dress, since his conviction, was most grotesque, all the right side of it being bright yellow, and all the left side of a purple brown. His wooden leg (a new one, worn for the first time on his trial) was painted sky-blue, and to complete the tout ensemble he wore a blue cloth cap with a red border and a white tassel on the top. Denis was 58 years old and was transported for ‘High Treason’ for throwing a stone at the King. “I was sentenced to be drawn on a hurdle then to be beheaded and quartered. The reason I threw the stone at the King as that I petitioned the King to restore my pension and he refused”. Surgeon’s Report: Conduct for the first 6 weeks most disorderly insubordinate, refractory and that of a madman subsequently quiet, tractable and submissive. Surgeons Special Rept. Though this man has been troublesome, insubordinate and even refractory for a time his conduct at other times and particularly subsequently has been better. Denis was 5’3 ½” tall, light grey eyes, brown to grey hair, single, lost left leg. 1833 Muster: Transported to Port Arthur. 30/11/1833: Denis died at Port Arthur.

Assault on his Majesty at Ascot. —The name of the daring ruffian who outrageously assaulted his Majesty on Tuesday at Ascot, is Dennis Collins, and the following is the account which he gives of himself: He is a native of Kilgarrah, about 22 miles from Cork, and is now 57 years of age. In 1797 he volunteered into the navy, and served, first, on board the Canada, under Sir J. B. Warren, and next in the Atlanta, under Captain Dent. He was in the King’s service two years and 4 months before he lost his leg by an accident on hoard the Atlanta. He had been admitted a pensioner to Greenwich Hospital, where he had remained eighteen months; but six months back he had misconducted himself towards his ward’s-man, and had been turned out. From that period, which was in December, he had been without pension or means of support. He petitioned the Lords of the Admiralty for redress, but in vain; he then, on the 19th of April last, petitioned the King. This petition he took to Whitehall, and he had reason to believe it had reached the King at Windsor, for it was sent back to the Lords of the Admiralty, and he was again informed through their Secretary, that his claims could not be recognised; he then became desperate; he had no means of support; and, as he said, might as well be shot or hanged as remain in such a state.” In this feeling it was he came to Ascot, determined to be revenged on the King. He admitted he threw the stone which struck his Majesty, as well that which followed. He had no accomplices , and acted entirely from his own feelings, and without the suggestion or dictation of any person. He then produced his papers to show that his story was well-founded ; and on being reasoned with on the atrocity of bis conduct, he said he was sorry for it. His manner was perfectly collected and rational, and he was recognised by some by some of the Bowstreet officers as having been before the magistrates of that establishment for some former misconduct. Waterford Mail, 27 June 1832.

His death divided opinion at the time, as the following articles show: Hobart Town Courier published this in 29 Nov 1833. Dennis Collins, the convict who the reader will recollect was transported to this colony for assaulting his Majesty at Ascot heath races, died at Port Arthur last week.- The discipline observed at that settlement is, we learn of the must severe and rigorous kind, proving almost insurmountable to those miserable men who from indulgence in drink and other dissipated habits in Hobart town, or elsewhere, had subjected themselves to a period of ordeal which their wasted and impaired frames are in many instances, wholly unable to endure. The consequence is, that many of these unhappy men speedily find a period to their miseries in death. …. Part of a letter signed “Veritas”: published in Hobart Town Courier, 20 Dec 1833, in response to previous article: PORT ARTHUR. Sir,-As I cannot suppose that you have any other desire than that your journal should be characterised by the fair and broad stamp of truth, 1 beg leave to assure you that the statements respecting Port Arthur which appeared in one of your late numbers are entirely erroneous - statements which are likely to leave a bad impression on the minds of the public in general, and to represent the discipline there maintained as cruel and barbarous, whereas it is not a degree more rigid than is actually necessary for the safety of the settlement. Dennis Collins did not die last week as stated by you but on the 1st Nov. in consequence of a fixed determination to refuse all necessary nourishment, although the best diet that the settlement could afford was daily offered to him. ...