History Daily: "The Cato Street Conspiracy"

Released: February 23, 2026
Host: Lindsey Graham

Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners to early 19th-century London to recount the dramatic events surrounding the Cato Street Conspiracy—a failed plot to assassinate the British Prime Minister and his cabinet on February 23, 1820. Host Lindsey Graham weaves together personal stories, political context, and vivid scene-setting to illuminate the motivations behind the conspirators, the government’s countermeasures, and the ultimate downfall of Arthur Thistlewood and his co-conspirators. The narrative emphasizes the tension between radical reformers and an unyielding government, spotlighting the role of government spies and the moral ambiguities of their tactics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Popular Radicalism and Early Agitation

[01:08–04:00]

• London, December 2, 1816: The Spa Fields riot erupts, led by Arthur Thistlewood, who is “whipping into a frenzy 10,000 working class Londoners over their lack of voting rights.”
• Thistlewood’s grievances are rooted in a political system where only 2% can vote.
• The aftermath: Arthur is arrested, but due to unreliable testimony from a government spy, he’s acquitted—fueling his radicalism.
• Quote:

  “Much of the jury will conclude… that it’s likely the spy was employed to incite the riot, and they will therefore find no reason to convict the revolutionaries for treason.” (Lindsey Graham, 03:17)

2. Escalating Tensions: Britain’s Political Climate

[07:11–09:06]

• Thistlewood’s frustration grows as reform is further suppressed.
• Referencing “the Six Acts,” passed after the Peterloo Massacre, which killed 15 protesters in Manchester—demonstrates government hostility to reform.
• The government’s crackdown gives rise to violent opposition, with Thistlewood determined “to enact change through violent means.”

3. The Conspiracy’s Formation and a Royal Complication

[09:03–11:35]

• January 29, 1820: Thistlewood convenes conspirators in a Cato Street loft, unveiling plans to murder the Prime Minister and cabinet at Lord Harrowby’s dinner.

• Before the plot can unfold, news arrives: King George III has died, throwing government plans into mourning and scuttling the dinner.

• The government’s embedded spy, George Edwards, quickly informs the Home Secretary. The authorities plot to lure the conspirators back with a fabricated dinner announcement.

• Quote:

  “To prevent any chances of a successful assassination, the Prime Minister and Cabinet do not even need to be at Lord Harrowby’s. The plotters only need to think that they are.” (Lindsey Graham, 11:37)

4. Espionage and Entrapment

[11:35–12:21; 15:04–18:53]

• George Edwards acts as agent provocateur, feeding misinformation to the conspirators.
• He suggests the rescheduled dinner, baits the group into action, and then reports their readiness to the authorities.
• Tensions among the conspirators surface; suspicions are raised, particularly by William Davidson, but Edwards skillfully quells their doubts.

5. The Takedown: Last-Minute Chaos and Capture

[21:35–23:32]

• February 23, 1820: The Bow Street Runners, led by information from Edwards, storm the loft.

• Arthur Thistlewood reacts violently—he fatally stabs a police officer and breaks the lantern, plunging the scene into darkness as chaos ensues.

• Thistlewood escapes temporarily via a rope ladder but is arrested hours later.

• Quote:

  “Arthur glares at the traitor and reaches for his own blade… Before the other Bow Street Runners can react, Arthur breaks the room’s lantern, plunging the loft into darkness.” (Lindsey Graham, 21:45)

6. Aftermath and Legacy

[23:32–24:05]

• In court, despite “some reservations about the use of an agent provocateur,” Thistlewood is convicted of treason.

• He and several co-conspirators are sentenced to death and publicly hanged, marking a brutal end to the conspiracy.

• Quote:

  “Only this time, Arthur will receive no sympathy in court… The judge and jury will declare Arthur guilty of treason, earning Arthur a sentence of death and a public hanging.” (Lindsey Graham, 23:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• A Lucky Acquittal After Spa Fields:

  “Much of the jury will conclude… that it’s likely the spy was employed to incite the riot, and they will therefore find no reason to convict...”
  (Lindsey Graham, 03:17)

• On Government Manipulation:

  “To prevent any chances of a successful assassination, the Prime Minister and Cabinet do not even need to be at Lord Harrowby’s. The plotters only need to think that they are.”
  (Lindsey Graham, 11:37)

• Turning Point—The Raid:

  “Arthur glares at the traitor and reaches for his own blade… Before the other Bow Street Runners can react, Arthur breaks the room’s lantern, plunging the loft into darkness.”
  (Lindsey Graham, 21:45)

• Inevitable Justice:

  “The judge and jury will declare Arthur guilty of treason, earning Arthur a sentence of death and a public hanging…”
  (Lindsey Graham, 23:34)

Segment Timestamps

• [01:08] – Opening scene: Spa Fields riot and Arthur Thistlewood's early agitation
• [07:11] – Context: Britain's tight grip on political power and aftermath of Peterloo
• [09:03] – The Cato Street conspiracy is hatched
• [11:35] – Government counter-plot: Agent provocateur and media manipulation
• [15:04] – Conspirators’ planning and William Davidson’s suspicions
• [21:35] – The police raid: violence, escape, and arrest
• [23:32] – Trial and executions: End of Thistlewood and his aims

Overall Tone and Style

Lindsey Graham maintains a vivid, suspenseful tone, blending immersive historical reenactment with reflective narration. The episode highlights moral ambiguity, political desperation, and the hazards of both revolutionary and reactionary extremism.

Summary

This episode of History Daily compellingly narrates the failed Cato Street conspiracy by placing listeners amid the fevered politics of 1820s London. It explores the motivations of the conspirators, the government’s secretive countermeasures, and the final violent clash. Through evocative storytelling and incisive historical detail, the episode paints a dramatic picture of activism, betrayal, and authoritarian response, ultimately questioning the costs of both rebellion and repression.