Why was the monkey hung in Hartlepool England during the Napoleonic War?

Answer 1

During the Napoleonic wars, a French ship was wrecked on the English coast near Hartlepool. The only Survivor was a monkey, which was wearing a French uniform (no doubt to provide amusement for those on board the ship). On finding the monkey, some locals decided to hold an impromptu trial on the beach. Since the monkey was unable to answer their questions they decided it was a French spy. It was sentenced to death and hanged from the mast of a fishing boat. To this day it has remained a source of embarrassment to the inhabitants of Hartlepool, a minority of whom consider the term "Monkey-hanger" offensive. (Answer from Wikipedia)

Hartlepool have since became known for the stupid mistake that had been made and therefore have to pay. The monkey had no choice on its future of life and therefore it was unfair and the wrong thing to do.

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It was never a monkey. Little boys who lived on war ships at the time were called powder monkeys. These children ran the gun powder from the magazine to the cannons. The story is about a French child who washed up ashore and the local fisherman thought he was a French spy. Any French man, woman or child to be found walking the coast line of England at the time would of bin hanged too. People from Hartlepool have mixed reactions to being called monkey hangers. The local football teams mascot is H'angus the monkey and the Mayor campaigned in a monkey suit and won.