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Foreign News
May 30, 1792
Gazette Of The United States
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
On March 16, 1792, an unknown assailant, later identified as discharged captain John Jacob Ankarstrom, attempted to assassinate King Gustav III of Sweden at a masked ball in the Royal Opera House in Stockholm. The king was shot in the hip but remained composed, and surgeons assured his survival. Ankarstrom was arrested the next day and confessed. A warning letter had been sent to the king.
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S T O C K H O L M, March 20.
The following account of the attempt to assassinate the King, in the night of the 16th March, was read in the Royal Chancery and published by authority in the public papers of the 18th.
"Last Friday the 16th of March, at three quarters past eleven o'clock at night, a short time after the King had entered the masked ball-room in the Royal Opera House, an unknown mask forced his way through the crowd of masks which surrounded the King, and fired a pistol at him, the charge whereof entered a little above the left hip and touched the back bone.
"Although so severely wounded, the King had yet strength enough to walk to the next closet, where he reclined on a sofa, and conversed with some of the gentlemen of the court, as well as some of the principal officers of State, who had obtained leave to follow him, with the greatest cheerfulness until the surgeons arrived, when the wound was examined and the first dressing laid on. His Majesty was then carried to the palace, and at 4 o'clock in the morning he was bled.
"Immediately after the shot was fired there were found in the Opera Room two pistols, one of which the assassin had made use of; but the other was yet loaded with two buck-shot, a quantity of small shot, and some points of cut nails.
"The assassin, a discharged captain, John Jacob Ankarstrom, was discovered the next day, the 17th of March about 10 o'clock in the forenoon and arrested. He confessed his crime, and acknowledged that the pistol he fired had been loaded with two bullets, the one round, the other beat square, besides with 12 grains of shot and 7 small nail points; that the other pistol had been loaded nearly in the same manner; and that he held besides a knife in the other hand, which he had bought but a week before, and had caused it to be ground with an edge on each side.
"Though the wound has not been fully cleared yet of the many parts of the charge, the surgeons nevertheless have been able to assure the distressed Royal Family, as well as the astonished inhabitants of this capital, that the shot did not touch those parts whose violation might have produced more dangerous consequences for the life of the King.
"His Majesty is as well as his circumstances will permit, and has enjoyed now and then some rest in his sleep.
"His Majesty not only sustained the examination of the wound, and other pains with that perfect serenity and strength of mind, which have distinguished so many actions of the life of the King, but he likewise received the Royal Family, numbers of the court, officers of state, and foreign ministers at his bed side. His Majesty in the same manner himself regulated the Royal Regency, dictated their instructions, and signed both instruments with his own hand.
"The examinations respecting this horrid deed, and all that has any connection therewith, continue in the forenoon and afternoon before the Royal Court of Chancery, and the public will receive in this manner all possible elucidation respecting an event, which nearly concerns every faithful subject, and which, until this important moment, never had been heard of in the kingdom of Sweden."
Letter to the King of Sweden, apprizing him of the intended assassination.
"SIRE,
"Deign to attend the information of a man who, though not honoured by serving you, not ambitious of your favour, and not flattering your foibles; yet endeavors to avert the danger which menaces your life. They are about to assassinate you: do not doubt it. They were in despair to see themselves disappointed when the ball was last week put off, but they resolved to try it to day. Keep yourself private, and avoid the ensuing entertainments, at least for this evening--give the conspirators time to moderate their passions; please to avoid also--the lower part of the castle of Haga. In a word, use every circumspection, at least for one month. Do not take pains to discover the author of this letter: he happened by chance to be acquainted with the bloody scheme that threatens your life; and believe that he is not interested in destroying the plan which threatens you. In case your mercenary soldiers had acted with violence against the citizens at Gottenburg, the author of this letter would have opposed you sword in hand; but he detests assassination."
The following account of the attempt to assassinate the King, in the night of the 16th March, was read in the Royal Chancery and published by authority in the public papers of the 18th.
"Last Friday the 16th of March, at three quarters past eleven o'clock at night, a short time after the King had entered the masked ball-room in the Royal Opera House, an unknown mask forced his way through the crowd of masks which surrounded the King, and fired a pistol at him, the charge whereof entered a little above the left hip and touched the back bone.
"Although so severely wounded, the King had yet strength enough to walk to the next closet, where he reclined on a sofa, and conversed with some of the gentlemen of the court, as well as some of the principal officers of State, who had obtained leave to follow him, with the greatest cheerfulness until the surgeons arrived, when the wound was examined and the first dressing laid on. His Majesty was then carried to the palace, and at 4 o'clock in the morning he was bled.
"Immediately after the shot was fired there were found in the Opera Room two pistols, one of which the assassin had made use of; but the other was yet loaded with two buck-shot, a quantity of small shot, and some points of cut nails.
"The assassin, a discharged captain, John Jacob Ankarstrom, was discovered the next day, the 17th of March about 10 o'clock in the forenoon and arrested. He confessed his crime, and acknowledged that the pistol he fired had been loaded with two bullets, the one round, the other beat square, besides with 12 grains of shot and 7 small nail points; that the other pistol had been loaded nearly in the same manner; and that he held besides a knife in the other hand, which he had bought but a week before, and had caused it to be ground with an edge on each side.
"Though the wound has not been fully cleared yet of the many parts of the charge, the surgeons nevertheless have been able to assure the distressed Royal Family, as well as the astonished inhabitants of this capital, that the shot did not touch those parts whose violation might have produced more dangerous consequences for the life of the King.
"His Majesty is as well as his circumstances will permit, and has enjoyed now and then some rest in his sleep.
"His Majesty not only sustained the examination of the wound, and other pains with that perfect serenity and strength of mind, which have distinguished so many actions of the life of the King, but he likewise received the Royal Family, numbers of the court, officers of state, and foreign ministers at his bed side. His Majesty in the same manner himself regulated the Royal Regency, dictated their instructions, and signed both instruments with his own hand.
"The examinations respecting this horrid deed, and all that has any connection therewith, continue in the forenoon and afternoon before the Royal Court of Chancery, and the public will receive in this manner all possible elucidation respecting an event, which nearly concerns every faithful subject, and which, until this important moment, never had been heard of in the kingdom of Sweden."
Letter to the King of Sweden, apprizing him of the intended assassination.
"SIRE,
"Deign to attend the information of a man who, though not honoured by serving you, not ambitious of your favour, and not flattering your foibles; yet endeavors to avert the danger which menaces your life. They are about to assassinate you: do not doubt it. They were in despair to see themselves disappointed when the ball was last week put off, but they resolved to try it to day. Keep yourself private, and avoid the ensuing entertainments, at least for this evening--give the conspirators time to moderate their passions; please to avoid also--the lower part of the castle of Haga. In a word, use every circumspection, at least for one month. Do not take pains to discover the author of this letter: he happened by chance to be acquainted with the bloody scheme that threatens your life; and believe that he is not interested in destroying the plan which threatens you. In case your mercenary soldiers had acted with violence against the citizens at Gottenburg, the author of this letter would have opposed you sword in hand; but he detests assassination."
What sub-type of article is it?
Royal Event
Political
What keywords are associated?
Sweden Assassination Attempt
King Gustav Iii
Masked Ball
Ankarstrom
Royal Opera House
Conspiracy Warning
What entities or persons were involved?
King Of Sweden
John Jacob Ankarstrom
Where did it happen?
Stockholm
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Stockholm
Event Date
The 16th Of March
Key Persons
King Of Sweden
John Jacob Ankarstrom
Outcome
the king was wounded in the hip but surgeons assured his survival; assassin arrested and confessed.
Event Details
An unknown mask fired a pistol at the King during a masked ball at the Royal Opera House, wounding him above the left hip. The King walked to a closet, conversed cheerfully, and was treated by surgeons before being carried to the palace. Two pistols and a knife were found; the assassin, discharged captain John Jacob Ankarstrom, was arrested the next day and confessed to loading the weapons elaborately. A prior warning letter alerted the King to the plot.