In 1819 he summoned the local Yeomanry to deal with a large crowd in St Peter 's Square in Manchester which had gathered to hear the political agitator Henry Hunt . The Yeomanry , on horseback with sabres drawn , forced its way through the crowd to break up the rally and allow Hunt to be arrested . From his vantage point William Hulton perceived the unfolding events as an assault on the yeomanry , and on L'Estrange 's arrival at 1:50 pm , at the head of his hussars , he ordered them into the field to disperse the crowd with the words : " Good God , Sir , do n't you see they are attacking the Yeomanry ; disperse the meeting ! " Fifteen people died from sabre and musket wounds or trampling , with 400 to 500 injured and the event became known as the Peterloo Massacre . Hulton was vilified by the local population and was obliged to decline a safe parliamentary seat offered to him in 1820
Peterloo Massacre
Peterloo Massacre
William Hulton