Porteous riots

A series of disturbances that took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1736. Crowds had rioted during the hanging of a smuggler, and Captain John Porteous of the Edinburgh city guard tried to restore order by opening fire, killing several people. As a result he was condemned to death, but reprieved. An orderly crowd then attacked his prison, dragged him out, and lynched him on the day originally appointed for his execution; for this outrage Edinburgh was fined £2000 and the Lord Provost was removed from office.