Marchmont Nedham
Encyclopedia
Marchmont Nedham, also Marchamont or Needham (1620 – November 1678) was a writer, publisher, and political commentator of the middle seventeenth century. A "highly productive propagandist," he was significant in the evolution of early English journalism, and has been strikingly (if hyperbolically) called the "press agent" of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell
.
Nedham was born in Burford
in Oxfordshire
, and was educated at All Souls College
of Oxford University. After college he became an usher at the Merchant Taylors' School
, and then a clerk at Gray's Inn
. He also studied medicine and pharmacology. His first major entry into journalism was the weekly Mercurius Britannicus, which he published every Monday from August 1643 through the end of 1646. His attacks on prominent Royalists
earned him imprisonment for seditious libel
during the English Civil War
; reportedly Nedham obtained an audience with King Charles I
, and gained a royal pardon. He thereafter printed a Royalist periodical, the Mercurius Pragmaticus, starting in September 1647 and continuing for two years. It was "one of the wittier and less ephemeral" of the "Cavalier weeklies."
The triumph of the Parliamentarians
in the Civil War led to Nedham's incarceration in Newgate Prison
in June 1649; he gained his release in November, by switching sides again. The result was his most significant enterprise, the weekly periodical Mercurius Politicus, which he used as a platform for the Commonwealth regime. (Nedham received a government payment of £50 in May 1650, probably to start this venture.) This third Nedham weekly began in June 1650, on a light note: "Why should not the Commonwealth have a Fool as well as the King had?" — but soon settled into a more serious vein as a voice of the republican movement of the day. He rested the case for the Commonwealth on arguments similar to those of Hobbes: that "the Sword is, and ever hath been, the Foundation of all Titles to Government", and that it was hardly likely that the Commonwealth's adversaries would ever succeed in their designs. Politicus continued for the next decade, the term of the Commonwealth era, under alternative titles like the Public Intelligence or Public Intelligencer. In 1655 Cromwell rewarded Nedham with an official post, so that Nedham was then perceived as a spokesman for the regime.
Nedham was associated with a set of influential republican writers of his generation, a circle that included Algernon Sidney, Henry Nevile, Thomas Chaloner
, Henry Marten
— and John Milton
. Milton, as a secretary to the Council of State in the early 1650s, would have overseen Nedham's publishing activity; later, the two men reportedly became personal friends.
Nedham was notable as an advocate of the commercial interests of emerging capitalism
in preference to the pillars of the older order. In 1652, he wrote that commercial interest "is the true zenith of every state and person...though clothed never so much with the specious disguise of religion, justice and necessity." Consistent with this outlook, Nedham translated John Selden
's Mare Clausum (1636
) as Of the Dominion or Ownership of the Sea (1652).
With the Restoration
of the monarchy in 1660, Nedham fled to the Netherlands, but was able to return to England after obtaining a pardon (allegedly purchased with a bribe). He devoted his later years to the practice of medicine, and also wrote on medical subjects.
In the next century, Nedham's name was used as a pseudonym
by other republican political writers; both John Adams
and Josiah Quincy Jr.
published pieces signed "Marchmont Nedham" in the early 1770s.
Nedham's later reputation was colored by the apparent cynicism and opportunism of his wavering allegiances, and by hostility toward his republicanism from subsequent generations of English critics. Yet even some hostile critics have conceded his literary talent and his influence. Sympathetic modern commentator Paul Rahe has called Nedham "the world's first great journalist."http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2751/is_72/ai_105369911/pg_9
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
.
Nedham was born in Burford
Burford
Burford is a small town on the River Windrush in the Cotswold hills in west Oxfordshire, England, about west of Oxford, southeast of Cheltenham and only from the Gloucestershire boundary...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, and was educated at All Souls College
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
of Oxford University. After college he became an usher at the Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
, and then a clerk at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. He also studied medicine and pharmacology. His first major entry into journalism was the weekly Mercurius Britannicus, which he published every Monday from August 1643 through the end of 1646. His attacks on prominent Royalists
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
earned him imprisonment for seditious libel
Seditious libel
Seditious libel was a criminal offence under English common law. Sedition is the offence of speaking seditious words with seditious intent: if the statement is in writing or some other permanent form it is seditious libel...
during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
; reportedly Nedham obtained an audience with King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, and gained a royal pardon. He thereafter printed a Royalist periodical, the Mercurius Pragmaticus, starting in September 1647 and continuing for two years. It was "one of the wittier and less ephemeral" of the "Cavalier weeklies."
The triumph of the Parliamentarians
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
in the Civil War led to Nedham's incarceration in Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
in June 1649; he gained his release in November, by switching sides again. The result was his most significant enterprise, the weekly periodical Mercurius Politicus, which he used as a platform for the Commonwealth regime. (Nedham received a government payment of £50 in May 1650, probably to start this venture.) This third Nedham weekly began in June 1650, on a light note: "Why should not the Commonwealth have a Fool as well as the King had?" — but soon settled into a more serious vein as a voice of the republican movement of the day. He rested the case for the Commonwealth on arguments similar to those of Hobbes: that "the Sword is, and ever hath been, the Foundation of all Titles to Government", and that it was hardly likely that the Commonwealth's adversaries would ever succeed in their designs. Politicus continued for the next decade, the term of the Commonwealth era, under alternative titles like the Public Intelligence or Public Intelligencer. In 1655 Cromwell rewarded Nedham with an official post, so that Nedham was then perceived as a spokesman for the regime.
Nedham was associated with a set of influential republican writers of his generation, a circle that included Algernon Sidney, Henry Nevile, Thomas Chaloner
Thomas Chaloner (regicide)
Thomas Chaloner was an English politician, commissioner at the trial of Charles I and signatory to his death warrant.He was born at Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire, and was the son of naturalist Sir Thomas Chaloner....
, Henry Marten
Henry Marten (regicide)
Sir Henry Marten was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1640 and 1653...
— and John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
. Milton, as a secretary to the Council of State in the early 1650s, would have overseen Nedham's publishing activity; later, the two men reportedly became personal friends.
Nedham was notable as an advocate of the commercial interests of emerging capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
in preference to the pillars of the older order. In 1652, he wrote that commercial interest "is the true zenith of every state and person...though clothed never so much with the specious disguise of religion, justice and necessity." Consistent with this outlook, Nedham translated John Selden
John Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
's Mare Clausum (1636
1636 in literature
The year 1636 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*January 31 - The King's Men perform Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at St. James's Palace.*February - James Shirley's The Duke's Mistress is performed at St...
) as Of the Dominion or Ownership of the Sea (1652).
With the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
of the monarchy in 1660, Nedham fled to the Netherlands, but was able to return to England after obtaining a pardon (allegedly purchased with a bribe). He devoted his later years to the practice of medicine, and also wrote on medical subjects.
In the next century, Nedham's name was used as a pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
by other republican political writers; both John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
and Josiah Quincy Jr.
Josiah Quincy II
Josiah Quincy, Jr., was an American lawyer and patriot. He was a principal spokesman for the Sons of Liberty in Boston prior to the Revolution and was John Adams' co-counsel during the trials of Captain Thomas Preston and the soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre.-Family:Quincy was father of...
published pieces signed "Marchmont Nedham" in the early 1770s.
Nedham's later reputation was colored by the apparent cynicism and opportunism of his wavering allegiances, and by hostility toward his republicanism from subsequent generations of English critics. Yet even some hostile critics have conceded his literary talent and his influence. Sympathetic modern commentator Paul Rahe has called Nedham "the world's first great journalist."http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2751/is_72/ai_105369911/pg_9
Selected works by Nedham
- The Levellers Levell'd, 1647
- The Case of the Commonwealth of England Stated, 1650
- The Excellency of a Free State, 1656
- A Short History of the English Rebellion, 1661
- A Discourse Concerning Schools and Schoolmasters, 1663