History Extra Podcast: Preview – The Forgers Who Faked a Fortune

Date: August 22, 2025
Host: Ellie Cawthorn
Guest: Professor Hannah Gregg
Series: History’s Greatest Scandals, Season 2 Preview
Main Theme: Unveiling Georgian-era high-stakes forgery and scandal

Overview

This episode is a sneak peek into the new season of History's Greatest Scandals. Host Ellie Cawthorn, alongside historian and author Professor Hannah Gregg, introduces listeners to the thrilling world of 18th-century fraudsters. The focus is on a notorious forgery case in Georgian London, examining how scams of the past echo modern obsessions with con artists and financial deception. The episode teases a deeper exploration of scandal, illicit liaisons, cross-dressing celebrity spies, and the societal undercurrents of the Georgian era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Enduring Fascination with Scammers (02:51–03:43)

• Modern Parallels: The conversation opens with a comparison between today’s scammer podcast/documentary craze and similar fascinations in previous centuries.
• Quote:

  “I feel like there’s so many of them around these days... usually these days they’re about fake billionaires or fake tech entrepreneurs, though, aren’t they?”
  — Ellie Cawthorn (02:53)

• Historical Continuity: Hannah Gregg emphasizes that the lure of scam stories isn’t new:

  “Our fascination with scammers has quite a long history and we can find some interesting cases in the Georgian period.”
  — Hannah Gregg (03:08)

Introducing the Georgian Forgery Scandal (03:43–05:13)

• Setting the Scene:
  • London, 1775.
  • Banker Henry Drummond is approached by Robert Perrault, a local apothecary, requesting a massive loan of £5,000—a fortune sufficient to buy an estate.
• The Suspect Bond:
  • Perrault offers a bond for £7,500, purportedly guaranteed by William Adair, a respected City of London figure.
• Significance of the Sums: The episode puts into perspective the immense amount involved, noting that the sum “is a significant, it’s sort of ‘buy an estate’ amount of money, basically.” (04:52)

Explaining 18th Century Bonds (05:13–05:54)

• Function of a Bond:
  • Hannah Gregg explains bonds as 18th-century equivalents to modern guarantor agreements:

    “A bond is a piece of paper that basically functions within the London and British economy as a form of trust.” (05:17)

  • The bond guarantees the repayment of the loan even upon the death of the guarantor—binding their estate to the debt.

Red Flags at Drummond’s Bank (06:32–07:45)

• Rising Suspicion:
  • Drummond is wary upon seeing Adair’s name, as the bank’s team had direct experience with him.
  • Upon inspecting the bond, the Drummond brothers express disbelief at its authenticity due to handwriting discrepancies.
• Quote:

  “As soon as we saw it, we both expressed a disbelief of its being Mr. Adair’s bond...”
  — Hannah Gregg, quoting Drummond (06:57)

• The Twist:
  • William Adair is a real, prominent figure.
  • The Drummonds’ personal knowledge of Adair makes them question the legitimacy of the bond—demonstrating not just skepticism but the importance of reputation and relationships in Georgian finance.

Preview of Scandalous Themes Explored in the Series (03:43–04:34)

• Seasonal Focus:
  • The series promises more stories of forgers, risqué liaisons, high-stakes gambling, and tales of cross-dressing spies.
• Insight:
  • These cases reveal much about the fabric of Georgian society—social mobility, risk-taking, gender dynamics, and the boundaries of trust.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the drama of Georgian London scams:

  “Today's case is a sensational courtroom drama featuring a whole gang of untrustworthy characters... a seemingly genteel lady... possibly an upstanding apothecary... and a fast living, gambling, dangerous twin brother.”
  — Hannah Gregg (03:08)

• Clarifying the risk and procedure:

  “He [Perrault] is saying that William Adair will meet the debt if he fails.”
  — Hannah Gregg (05:54)

• Suspicion and expertise:

  “The two brothers at Drummond’s bank had in fact had many personal dealings themselves with Mr. Adair, and looking at this bond, they were really not sure that was his handwriting.”
  — Hannah Gregg (07:21)

• On the enduring appeal of conspiracy and scandal in history:

  “We’ll be exposing illicit liaisons, meeting cross-dressing celebrity spies and and getting involved in some high stakes gambling as we search out some of the most salacious stories of the day.”
  — Ellie Cawthorn (02:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:00 — Introduction to "History’s Greatest Scandals" Season 2
• 02:51–03:43 — Contemporary scammer obsession compared to Georgian drama
• 04:34–05:13 — Setting the scene: London, 1775 and the bank loan request
• 05:13–05:54 — Explanation: What is a bond in 18th-century banking?
• 06:32–06:57 — Drummond brothers’ suspicion and authentication of the bond
• 07:21–07:45 — The importance of personal relationships and expertise in uncovering fraud

Conclusion

This preview whets the appetite for listeners interested in scandal, crime, and society, demonstrating that the roots of our fascination with deception and fraud run deep. The hosts bring a lively, conversational tone, combining sharp historical insight with modern sensibility, promising an engaging and informative season centered on the wild, perilous, and revelatory stories of Georgian Britain.

To listen to the full episode and the series, search “History’s Greatest Scandals” wherever you get your podcasts.