Society for Constitutional Information
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1780 by Major John Cartwright
to promote parliamentary reform, the Society for Constitutional Information flourished until 1783, but thereafter made little headway. The organization actively promoted Thomas Paine
's Rights of Man
and other radical publications, and under the leadership of John Horne Tooke
collaborated with other reform societies, metropolitan and provincial, such as the London Corresponding Society
, with which it met in 1794 to discuss a further national convention as well as producing a large number of pamphlet
s and periodicals. After the government repression and 1794 Treason Trials
in October, in which the leaders were acquitted, the society ceased to meet.
John Cartwright (political reformer)
John Cartwright was an English naval officer, Nottinghamshire militia major and prominent campaigner for parliamentary reform. He subsequently became known as the Father of Reform...
to promote parliamentary reform, the Society for Constitutional Information flourished until 1783, but thereafter made little headway. The organization actively promoted Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine
Thomas "Tom" Paine was an English author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States...
's Rights of Man
Rights of Man
Rights of Man , a book by Thomas Paine, posits that popular political revolution is permissible when a government does not safeguard its people, their natural rights, and their national interests. Using these points as a base it defends the French Revolution against Edmund Burke's attack in...
and other radical publications, and under the leadership of John Horne Tooke
John Horne Tooke
John Horne Tooke was an English politician and philologist.-Early life and work:He was born in Newport Street, Long Acre, Westminster, the third son of John Horne, a poulterer in Newport Market. As a youth at Eton College, Tooke described his father to friends as a "turkey merchant"...
collaborated with other reform societies, metropolitan and provincial, such as the London Corresponding Society
London Corresponding Society
London Corresponding Society was a moderate-radical body concentrating on reform of the Parliament of Great Britain, founded on 25 January 1792. The creators of the group were John Frost , an attorney, and Thomas Hardy, a shoemaker and metropolitan Radical...
, with which it met in 1794 to discuss a further national convention as well as producing a large number of pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
s and periodicals. After the government repression and 1794 Treason Trials
1794 Treason Trials
The 1794 Treason Trials, arranged by the administration of William Pitt, were intended to cripple the British radical movement of the 1790s. Over thirty radicals were initially arrested; three were tried for high treason: Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke and John Thelwall...
in October, in which the leaders were acquitted, the society ceased to meet.