The incendiary

by Jessica Warner · 2005

The Incendiary chronicles the turbulent life of John the Painter, a restless Scottish youth born in Edinburgh in 1752 who became one of the 18th‑century’s most audacious saboteurs. Driven by a reckless idealism, he set fire to British shipyards during the American Revolutionary War, hoping to cripple the empire’s naval power. Warner weaves a vivid portrait of his daring exploits, his capture, and his dramatic execution by hanging in Portsmouth in 1777. Interlaced with a reflective meditation on the timeless folly of youthful ambition, the book offers both a gripping narrative and scholarly insight, complete with bibliographic references and an index for the curious reader.