James Boucher (died 1704) was an English sailor who was one of the last people in England to be hanged, drawn, and quartered.

Biography

Boucher was born in England and served under

James II James II may refer to: * James II of Avesnes (died c. 1205), knight of the Fourth Crusade * James II of Majorca (died 1311), Lord of Montpellier * James II of Aragon (1267–1327), King of Sicily * James II, Count of La Marche (1370–1438), King C ...

in Ireland during James' final attempts to regain Britain after the

Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution; gd, Rèabhlaid Ghlòrmhor; cy, Chwyldro Gogoneddus , also known as the ''Glorieuze Overtocht'' or ''Glorious Crossing'' in the Netherlands, is the sequence of events leading to the deposition of King James II and ...

. After James was forced to leave Ireland, Boucher went to France some time before 1697 where he lived for several years and supposedly spent time helping Protestant prisoners of the French king. Owing to a number of plots against the new King

William III William III or William the Third may refer to: Kings * William III of Sicily (c. 1186–c. 1198) * William III of England and Ireland or William III of Orange or William II of Scotland (1650–1702) * William III of the Netherlands and Luxembourg ...

, it was made law that to return to England from France it was necessary to gain permission from the government in London. However, not having the personal renown to be able to get noticed by the English government, Boucher and his family remained trapped in France. He mentioned his plight to passing soldiers and noblemen from England, several of whom said they would remember him and mention him when they returned to England so that he could return himself. Believing this was enough, Boucher gave these people time to get back to England before he returned some time before 1703. However, he had not been lucky enough to be remembered and mentioned before parliament, and he was arrested for travelling into England without a license not long after landing at Eastbourne. Travelling without a licence was high treason, and so Boucher was tried at the

Queen's Bench The King's Bench (), or, during the reign of a female monarch, the Queen's Bench ('), refers to several contemporary and historical courts in some Commonwealth jurisdictions. * Court of King's Bench (England), a historic court court of common ...

in early 1704 where he pleaded guilty. On the 28th of February he was sentenced, to be hanged, drawn and quartered. However while is prison he was reprieved by Queen Anne but died soon afterwards. (Proceedings against James Boucher, Queen Anne Pages 982 onwards.)

Biography

References

Further reading