Collet Dobson Collet
Encyclopedia
Collet Dobson Collet was a radical
freethinker
, Chartist
and campaigner against newspaper taxation.
, aborted due to lack of money, Collet became Director of music at South Place Chapel
, and was heavily involved in the Chartist movement.
He became Secretary of the People's Charter Union, and of the Newspaper Stamp
Abolition Committee in 1849. In 1866 he became editor of The Diplomatic Review. This journal was first known as The Free Press prior to Collet's taking it over and was a mouthpiece for the views of David Urquhart
.
Collet invited radical people to contribute to Diplomatic Review and as a result began publishing articles by Karl Marx
. As a result the two became great friends and weekly meetings were held at each other's houses at which Shakespeare readings were given by members of the family. These meetings became formalised as 'The Dogberry Club. Marx felt that his strong German accent would not be helpful for authenticity and so he watched the proceedings as his daughter Eleanor Marx
and Collet's daughter Clara Collet
amongst others became heavily involved in the readings.
From 1851 - 1870 he was Secretary of the Association for the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge.
series in 1933.
Radicals (UK)
The Radicals were a parliamentary political grouping in the United Kingdom in the early to mid 19th century, who drew on earlier ideas of radicalism and helped to transform the Whigs into the Liberal Party.-Background:...
freethinker
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
, Chartist
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
and campaigner against newspaper taxation.
Background & Work
A career in the LawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, aborted due to lack of money, Collet became Director of music at South Place Chapel
South Place Ethical Society
The South Place Ethical Society, based in London at Conway Hall, is thought to be the oldest surviving freethought organisation in the world, and is the only remaining Ethical society in the United Kingdom...
, and was heavily involved in the Chartist movement.
He became Secretary of the People's Charter Union, and of the Newspaper Stamp
Stamp Act
A stamp act is any legislation that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents. Those that pay the tax receive an official stamp on their documents, making them legal documents. The taxes raised under a stamp act are called stamp duty. This system of taxation was first devised...
Abolition Committee in 1849. In 1866 he became editor of The Diplomatic Review. This journal was first known as The Free Press prior to Collet's taking it over and was a mouthpiece for the views of David Urquhart
David Urquhart
David Urquhart was a Scottish diplomat and writer.. He was a Member of Parliament 1847-52.-Early life and family:...
.
Collet invited radical people to contribute to Diplomatic Review and as a result began publishing articles by Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
. As a result the two became great friends and weekly meetings were held at each other's houses at which Shakespeare readings were given by members of the family. These meetings became formalised as 'The Dogberry Club. Marx felt that his strong German accent would not be helpful for authenticity and so he watched the proceedings as his daughter Eleanor Marx
Eleanor Marx
Jenny Julia Eleanor "Tussy" Marx , also known as Eleanor Marx Aveling, was the English-born youngest daughter of Karl Marx. She was herself a socialist activist, who sometimes worked as a literary translator...
and Collet's daughter Clara Collet
Clara Collet
Clara Collet was pivotal in effecting many reforms which greatly improved working conditions and pay for women during the early part of the twentieth century...
amongst others became heavily involved in the readings.
From 1851 - 1870 he was Secretary of the Association for the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge.
Book
Collet's book, A History of the Taxes on Knowledge, was first published in 1899. It was subsequently re-published in the Thinker's LibraryThinker's Library
The Thinker's Library was a series of 140 small hardcover books published for the Rationalist Press Association by Watts & Co., London between 1929 and 1951. They consisted of a selection of essays, literature, and extracts from greater works by various classical and contemporary humanists and...
series in 1933.