William Belsham
William Belsham(1752–1827) was an English political writer and historian, noted as a supporter of theWhig Partyand its principles. He justified theAmerican Revolutionin excusing Americans in their resistance to the demands of England, and he was an advocate of progressive political liberty.
Life
[edit]The brother of the Unitarian preacherThomas Belsham,and brother-in-law of the Unitarian ministerTimothy Kenrick,he was born atBedford,the son of James Belsham (died 1770), a nonconformist minister.[1][2]He died nearHammersmithon 17 November 1827.[3]
Works
[edit]Belsham wrote history as aradical Whig.[4]He belonged to the anti-war group of historians, withCharles James FoxandAnthony Robinson.[5]He began his career as an author by publishingEssays, Philosophical, Historical, and Literary,two vols. 1789–91.[3]He used the term "libertarian"in a discussion of free will and in opposition to"necessitarian"(or determinist) views.[6]
In 1792 he publishedExamination of an Appeal from the Old to the New Whigs,and in 1793Remarks on the Nature and Necessity of Political Reform.He also wrote on theTest Act,theFrench Revolution,theTreaty of Amiens,and the poor laws.[3]
In 1793 Belsham published, in two volumes,Memoirs of the Kings of Great Britain of the House of Brunswick-Luneburg,and this was followed in 1795 byMemoirs of the Reign of George III to the Session of Parliament 1793,in four volumes, a fifth and sixth volume appearing in 1801, bringing it down to 1799. In 1798 he published, in two volumes,A History of Great Britain from the Revolution to the Accession of the House of Hanover,and in 1806 all the volumes were reissued, with two additional volumes, the twelve volumes appearing under the title,History of Great Britain to the Conclusion of the Peace of Amiens in 1802.[3]He engaged in controversy with BishopHerbert Marshon the responsibility for theFrench Revolutionary Wars,taking theFoxite Whigline and supporting German critics of Great Britain.[7]
An eight-volume setMemoirs of the Reign of George III from his Accession, to the Peace of Amienswas published in 1813.[3]
References
[edit]- ^Cannon, John. "Belsham, William".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2067.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^Alan Brockett (1962).Nonconformity in Exeter, 1650–1875.Manchester University Press ND. p.143.GGKEY:3AD7RU2L125.Retrieved25 November2012.
- ^abcde.Dictionary of National Biography.London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- ^Philip Connell (26 May 2005).Romanticism, Economics and the Question of 'Culture'.Oxford University Press. p. 93.ISBN978-0-19-928205-0.Retrieved25 November2012.
- ^J. E. Cookson(1982).The Friends of Peace: Anti-War Liberalism in England 1793–1815.Cambridge University Press. p. 146.ISBN978-0-521-23928-8.Retrieved25 November2012.
- ^William Belsham (1789).Essays, philosophical, historical, and literary.Charles Dilly.p.11.Retrieved25 November2012.
- ^Forrest, Robert K. "Marsh, Herbert".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/18111.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:"Belsham, William".Dictionary of National Biography.London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
