Highwayman

Historical eventFebruary 231739

Highwayman

The identity of English highwayman Dick Turpin was uncovered by his former schoolmate, who recognised his handwriting, leading to Turpin's trial.

Everything on February 23Original source

In context

When
Monday, February 23 1739287 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
18th century · 1730s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

The Gregorian calendar was in use in Catholic Europe from 1582, but Britain and its colonies kept the Julian calendar until 14 September 1752 — sources from those places may date this event 10–11 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: From 1739.

What happened

A highwayman was a robber who stole from travellers. This type of thief usually travelled and robbed by horse as compared to a footpad who travelled and robbed on foot; mounted highwaymen were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads. Such criminals operated until the mid- or late 19th century. Highwaywomen, such as Katherine Ferrers, were said to also exist, often dressing as men, especially in fiction.

February 23 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1739Highwayman
  2. 2008Northrop B-2 Spirit
  3. 2010Diesel fuel
  4. 201223 February 2012 Iraq attacks
  5. 2017Free Syrian Army
  6. 2017Syrian civil war
  7. 20182018 Djiboutian parliamentary election
  8. 2019Atlas Air Flight 3591
  9. 2020Murder of Ahmaud Arbery
  10. 2021February 2021 Ecuadorian prison riots
  11. 20252025 German federal election

Also in 1739

  • September 9Stono RebellionThe Stono Rebellion, at the time the largest slave rebellion in the Thirteen Colonies of British America, erupted near Charleston, South…
  • November 20War of Jenkins' EarWar of Jenkins' Ear: A British naval force arrived at the settlement of Portobello in the Spanish Main, capturing it the next day.

Everything we record for 1739 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Highwayman”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/highwayman-1739-february-23, accessed October 29, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Highwayman happen?

February 23 1739 — 287 years ago, on a Monday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.