Coefficients (dining club)
Encyclopedia
The Coefficients was a dining club
founded in 1902 at a dinner given by the Fabian
campaigners Sidney and Beatrice Webb
. It was a forum for the meeting of British socialist reformers and imperialists
of the Edwardian era
. The group met monthly.
The club's membership included:
In 1903 Russell resigned from the club after a disagreement on the policy of Entente
, promoted in a speech by Edward Grey. Russell claimed Entente would lead to war. The group was further divided over the issue of Tariff Reform
following Joseph Chamberlain
's resignation as Secretary of State for the Colonies
. Amery would invite those Coefficients supporting reform to form a new club, 'The Compatriots'.
The club continued to exist until 1909. Printed minutes of its meetings are held by the British Library of Political and Economic Science
.
Dining club
A dining club is a social group, usually requiring membership , which meets for dinners and discussion on a regular basis. They may also often have guest speakers...
founded in 1902 at a dinner given by the Fabian
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
campaigners Sidney and Beatrice Webb
Beatrice Webb
Martha Beatrice Webb, Lady Passfield was an English sociologist, economist, socialist and social reformer. Although her husband became Baron Passfield in 1929, she refused to be known as Lady Passfield...
. It was a forum for the meeting of British socialist reformers and imperialists
New Imperialism
New Imperialism refers to the colonial expansion adopted by Europe's powers and, later, Japan and the United States, during the 19th and early 20th centuries; expansion took place from the French conquest of Algeria until World War I: approximately 1830 to 1914...
of the Edwardian era
Edwardian period
The Edwardian era or Edwardian period in the United Kingdom is the period covering the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910.The death of Queen Victoria in January 1901 and the succession of her son Edward marked the end of the Victorian era...
. The group met monthly.
The club's membership included:
- Leopold Stennett AmeryLeopold Stennett AmeryLeopold Charles Maurice Stennett Amery CH , usually known as Leo Amery or L. S. Amery, was a British Conservative Party politician and journalist, noted for his interest in military preparedness, India, and the British Empire.-Early life:Leopold Amery was born in Gorakhpur, India to an English...
, statesman and Conservative politician. - Richard Burdon Haldane, Liberal politician, lawyer, and philosopher.
- Halford John MackinderHalford John MackinderSir Halford John Mackinder PC was an English geographer and is considered one of the founding fathers of both geopolitics and geostrategy.-Early life and education:...
, geographer and politician. - Leopold MaxseLeopold MaxseLeopold James Maxse was a journalist and editor of the conservative British publication, National Review, between August 1893 and his death in January 1932...
, editor, National ReviewNational Review (London)The National Review was founded in 1883 by the English writers Alfred Austin and William Courthope.It was launched as a platform for the views of the British Conservative Party, its masthead incorporating a quotation of the former Conservative Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli:Under editor Leopold... - Alfred Milner, statesman and colonial administrator
- Henry NewboltHenry NewboltSir Henry John Newbolt, CH was an English poet. He is best remembered for Vitaï Lampada, a lyrical piece used for propaganda purposes during the First World War.-Background:...
, author and poet. - Carlyon BellairsCarlyon BellairsCommander Carlyon Wilfroy Bellairs was a British naval officer and politician.He was born at Gibraltar, the son of Lieutenant-General Sir William Bellairs, KCMG....
, naval commander and M.P.Member of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,... - James Louis GarvinJames Louis GarvinFor the basketball player, see James Garvin James Louis Garvin , was an influential British journalist, editor, and author...
, journalist and editor - William Pember ReevesWilliam Pember ReevesThe Hon. William Pember Reeves was a New Zealand statesman, historian and poet, who promoted social reform.-Biography:...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
statesman, historian and poet - Bertrand RussellBertrand RussellBertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
, philosopher, and mathematician - Sir Clinton Edward DawkinsClinton Edward DawkinsSir Clinton Edward Dawkins was a British businessman and civil servant.He succeeded Alfred Milner as private secretary to Chancellor of the Exchequer George Goschen in 1889. He later served overseas as undersecretary for finance in Egypt from 1895 to 1899...
, businessman and civil servant. - Sir Henry BirchenoughHenry BirchenoughSir John Henry Birchenough, 1st Baronet, GCMG was an English businessman and public servant.-Early life and education:...
, businessman and civil servant. - Sir Edward Grey, Liberal politician
- H. G. WellsH. G. WellsHerbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
, novelist
In 1903 Russell resigned from the club after a disagreement on the policy of Entente
Entente Cordiale
The Entente Cordiale was a series of agreements signed on 8 April 1904 between the United Kingdom and the French Republic. Beyond the immediate concerns of colonial expansion addressed by the agreement, the signing of the Entente Cordiale marked the end of almost a millennium of intermittent...
, promoted in a speech by Edward Grey. Russell claimed Entente would lead to war. The group was further divided over the issue of Tariff Reform
Tariff Reform League
The Tariff Reform League was a pressure group formed in 1903 to protest against 'unfair' foreign imports and to advocate Imperial Preference to protect British industry from foreign competition. It was well funded and included politicians, intellectuals and businessmen, and was popular with the...
following Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....
's resignation as Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
. Amery would invite those Coefficients supporting reform to form a new club, 'The Compatriots'.
The club continued to exist until 1909. Printed minutes of its meetings are held by the British Library of Political and Economic Science
British Library of Political and Economic Science
The British Library of Political and Economic Science is the main library of theLondon School of Economics and Political Science, and the world's largest political and social sciences library .-Description:...
.