page_title: Charles Pinney
section_title: Mayor during the 1831 riots
hierarchical_section_title: Charles Pinney / Mayor during the 1831 riots
caption_attribution_description: English: Attack on Sir Charles Wetherell at Bristol, 29 October 1831 by William Barnes Wollen (1857–1936) from Cassell's Century Edition History of England, pub circa 1901
context_page_description: Charles Pinney was a British merchant and local politician in Bristol, England. He was a partner in a family business that ran sugar plantations in the West Indies and owned a number of slaves. Pinney was selected as mayor of Bristol in 1831 and within weeks had to manage the response to major riots. Public order was lost for a number of days and significant damage caused to the city centre. Pinney was charged with neglect of duty over his actions but was acquitted at trial. He returned to local government as an alderman, holding the position until 1853.
context_section_description: Pinney was selected as mayor of Bristol on 16 September 1831. The political environment was fraught, a Whig government was attempting to pass the second Reform Bill to implement electoral reform in the House of Commons.  The Tories opposed this bill but it was supported by much of the general populace, including many in Bristol. 
  Pinney's selection as mayor may have been an attempt by the Tory majority in the corporation to curry favour with pro-reform elements in the city and head off unrest.  Pinney attempted to remain politically neutral after his appointment, though this angered many of the Whigs who regarded him as having abandoned his beliefs to join The Establishment.
  Civil disturbances occurred at the visit of the anti-reform Bishop of Bath and Wells on 24 October and the anti-reform judge Charles Wetherell on 29 October.  The latter instance saw attacks on a carriage carrying Pinney and Wetherell, which escalated into the 1831 Bristol riots.  The civic authorities lost control of the city until 31 October.  Pinney was criticised by some for his actions during the riot and was tried at the Court of King's Bench from 25 October 1832, charged with neglect of duty.  He was found not guilty of the charge by the jury after seven days.
caption: A 1901 depiction of the attack on Pinney and Wetherell's carriage
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