Robert Pate

Robert Francis Pate, Jr (1819–1889) was a former British Army officer, best remembered for his assault on Queen Victoria on 27 June 1850.

Early career

In 1841, Pate purchased a Cornetcy in the 10th Light Dragoons. He purchased a Lieutenantcy the following year.

Assassination attempt

The Queen had visited Cambridge House in Piccadilly on 27 June 1850, in order to see her dying uncle, Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge. At about 6:20 that evening, her carriage was leaving the courtyard when Robert Pate, formerly an officer in the British Army, beat her on the head with a small cane that he was carrying. He beat her quite forcibly on the head, crushing her bonnet. By some accounts, this attack drew blood, but by others she was merely bruised.

In either case, Pate was immediately arrested and was quickly put on trial. He attempted to plead insanity, but the judges found him sane. As a result, Pate was given the maximum sentence, seven years of penal transportation.

In Tasmania

In August 1850, Robert Pate was sent to Van Diemen's Land, which is today known as Tasmania. Pate served his seven years of penal servitude, during and immediately after which he may have accumulated riches, possibly in gold. In any case, he returned to England, and his wife, in early 1860.

Later life

Following his penal servitude in Tasmania, Robert Pate returned to his home town of Wisbech, in order to settle his father's estate. His father, Robert Pate, Sr., had died shortly before Pate's return and likely left a small fortune, having been Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire and High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. The elder Pate had also been a major factor in the corn market locally.

The publishers of the local newspaper, The Wisbech Advertiser, reported Pate's death at the age of seventy. He had left an estate of ₤22,464 (equivalent to £1,779,996 today 2007) ^[1] to his wife.

Footnotes

External links

• Valentine. "PATE, Robert." RootsWeb. 9 June 1997