Cobbett, William 1762-1835
Archival location guide — where this economist’s surviving papers are held, their notable correspondents, and key published sources.
Born 1763 · died 1835
William Cobbett was an English pamphleteer, journalist, politician, and farmer born in Farnham, Surrey. He was one of an agrarian faction seeking to reform Parliament, abolish "rotten boroughs", restrain foreign activity, and raise wages, with the goal of easing poverty among farm labourers and small land holders. Cobbett backed lower taxes, saving, reversing commons enclosures and returning to the gold standard. He opposed borough-mongers, sinecurists, bureaucratic "tax-eaters" and stockbrokers. His radicalism furthered the Reform Act 1832 and gained him one of two newly created seats in Parliament for the borough of Oldham. His polemics range from political reform to religion, including Catholic emancipation. His best known book is Rural Rides. He argued against Malthusianism, saying economic betterment could support global population growth.
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About 300 family letters, 1791-1833, including many to and from Cobbett (particularly with his daughter Anne). A few miscellaneous notes for lectures or articles, and some biographical notes on Cobbett himself.
Cobbett papers, Nuffield College, Oxford.
Some letters and memoranda, 1831-1838. Two manuscripts, 1830 and 1831. Correspondence concerning the Weekly Register, 1800-1810.
BL Add. MSS. 31125, 31857, 22906, 22907.
A small collection of papers, including accounts, lecture notes and letters to J. Y. Akerman and Joseph Bradley.
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
A collection of Cobbett's letters to various correspondents, including Messrs Bagshaw, Dean, Gutsell, Oldfield, Wright and Dr French Laurence, 1797-1835.
Cobbett collection, University of Illinois Library, Urbana.
An account book relating to his bookselling activities in Philadelphia, 1796-1800.
American Antiquarian Society, Philadelphia.
Ten letters to various correspondents, 1800-1835. Rutgers UL, New Jersey.
Two manuscripts of editions of Cobbett's Weekly Political Register, 1822 and 1828, with letters to various correspondents, 1802 – 1834.
Houghton Library, Harvard University.
Various collections include letters of Cobbett to different correspondents, 1793-1832.
Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia.
Correspondents
JAMES PAUL COBBETT, copies of letters (with some to other correspondents), 1820-1827.
BL Add. MS. 31127.
JAMES MATHIEU, 23 letters, 1793.
Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia.
GEORGE O’BRIEN, 3rd Earl of Egremont, three letters, 1821. Petworth House Archives, National Register of Archives (NRA) 15719.
WILLIAM WINDHAM, over 200 items, 1800-1806. BL Add. MS. 37853.
JOHN WRIGHT, many letters, 1807-1810. BL Add. MS. 31126.
Printed Material
LEWIS MELVILLE, Life and Letters of William Cobbett ( London, 1913).
GEORGE DOUGLAS HOWARD COLE, The Life of William Cobbett ( London, 1924).
New Palgrave ; ODNB; ESS III 602.
Portrait: BLM (P); NPG