May 29 in Victorian History
What the Victorians were up to on this date, year by remarkable year.
1842
A pistol aimed at the Queen on the Mall
As Victoria's carriage returns along the Mall, John Francis steps forward and aims a pistol at her — but the weapon fails to fire, and he melts into the crowd. Refusing to hide, Victoria deliberately rides the same route the next evening to bait him; Francis fires, misses, and is seized by plainclothes police. Convicted of high treason, his death sentence is commuted to transportation for life.