page_title: Footpad
section_title: Criminal system
hierarchical_section_title: Footpad / Criminal system
caption_attribution_description: English: Engraving by Thomas Rowlandson, c. 1812
context_page_description: In archaic terminology, a footpad is a robber or thief specialising in pedestrian victims. The term was used widely from the 16th century until the 19th century, but gradually fell out of common use. A footpad was considered a low criminal, as opposed to the mounted highwayman who in certain cases might gain fame as well as notoriety. Footpads operated during the Elizabethan era and until the beginning of the 19th century.
context_section_description: A number of thieves operated by necessity and joined existing gangs. In the 1720s London was dominated by several large gangs. A gang consisted of an association of different sub-groups of members who committed robberies together, since acting alone was less fruitful than operating with the support of companions. This organized criminal system was the basis of a sense of cohesion at the lowest level of society. The loot was equally divided by the whole gang, and every member took an active part in the criminal operation.
caption: Doctor Syntax and Highwaymen, 1813 – Engraving by Thomas Rowlandson.
   Doctor Syntax – a popular literary character of the early nineteenth century – on horseback, stopped by three robbers armed with pistols.
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