James "Purly" Wilson (1760-1820) was a weaver in Strathaven, Lanarkshire. He was inspired by Thomas Paine's I and started becoming involved in reformist groups. On 1st April 1820 government spies encouraged groups to rise against the state; Wilson led a march of 22 men from Strathaven to Glasgow, only to discover that no such uprising existed. Dejected, they made for home, where Wilson was arrested for high treason. He was hanged and beheaded on 30th August 1820.