# Charles Bradlaugh > British freethinker and politician (1833–1891) **Wikidata**: [Q387458](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q387458) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bradlaugh) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/charles-bradlaugh ## Summary Charles Bradlaugh (1833–1891) was a British freethinker, politician, and political activist who championed secularism, freedom of thought, and parliamentary reform. He is best known for his efforts to affirm the rights of atheists and freethinkers in public life, particularly through his repeated attempts to take his seat in the House of Commons without taking a religious oath. ## Biography - Born: 26 September 1833, in Hoxton, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland - Nationality: British (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) - Education: Largely self-educated; apprenticed as a cooper - Known for: Advocacy for secularism, parliamentary service, and co-founding The Freethought Publishing Company - Employer(s): The National Reformer (as editor), The Freethought Publishing Company (co-founder) - Field(s): Politics, freethinking activism, journalism, publishing ## Contributions Charles Bradlaugh made several significant contributions: - **Political Activism**: Bradlaugh was a prominent figure in the secularist movement and fought for the rights of non-religious individuals to participate in public life without religious oaths. - **Editor of The National Reformer**: He served as the editor of this influential freethought periodical, using it as a platform to promote secularism and social reform. - **Co-founder of The Freethought Publishing Company**: Established in 1877 with Annie Besant, the company published works promoting secularism, social reform, and freedom of thought. - **Parliamentary Service**: Bradlaugh was elected to the House of Commons multiple times but faced repeated refusals to take his seat due to his atheism. His struggle culminated in a legal and political battle that influenced later reforms regarding oaths of office. - **Publications**: Authored and co-authored numerous works, including: - *The Impossibility of Atheistic Oaths* (1888) - *A Plea for Atheism* (1864) - *Why I am an Atheist* (1860) - *The Bible: Its Story, Its Value, Its Truth* (1860) - *True Civilization: A Handbook of Social Reform* (1883) ## FAQs ### What was Charles Bradlaugh known for? Charles Bradlaugh was known for his advocacy of secularism, his role as a political activist, and his efforts to affirm the rights of atheists to serve in public office without religious oaths. He was also a co-founder of The Freethought Publishing Company and editor of The National Reformer. ### What were Charles Bradlaugh’s major publications? Bradlaugh authored or co-authored several influential works, including *The Impossibility of Atheistic Oaths*, *A Plea for Atheism*, *Why I am an Atheist*, and *The Bible: Its Story, Its Value, Its Truth*. These works were widely read and helped shape the secularist movement in Britain. ### What role did Charles Bradlaugh play in politics? Bradlaugh was elected to the House of Commons multiple times as a Member of Parliament for Northampton. However, he was repeatedly denied his seat due to his refusal to take the religious oath required at the time. His struggle became a landmark case in the fight for religious freedom and secular governance. ### What organizations was Charles Bradlaugh involved with? He was involved with The National Reformer (as editor), The Freethought Publishing Company (co-founder), and the National Secular Society, which promoted freethought and secularism in British public life. ### What was The Freethought Publishing Company? Founded in 1877 by Bradlaugh and Annie Besant, The Freethought Publishing Company was dedicated to publishing books and pamphlets that promoted secularism, social reform, and freedom of thought. It played a key role in disseminating freethought literature in the UK. ## Why They Matter Charles Bradlaugh's legacy lies in his tireless advocacy for secularism and religious freedom in public life. His legal and political battles over the right to affirm rather than swear a religious oath in Parliament set important precedents for the rights of non-religious individuals. His work laid the groundwork for later reforms in British law and influenced the broader secularist movement in Europe and beyond. Bradlaugh’s writings and activism continue to inspire freethinkers and secularists today. ## Notable For - Advocating for the right of atheists to affirm rather than swear oaths in Parliament - Co-founding The Freethought Publishing Company in 1877 - Serving as editor of *The National Reformer*, a leading freethought publication - Being repeatedly elected to Parliament but denied his seat due to his atheism - Publishing influential secularist texts, including *A Plea for Atheism* and *Why I am an Atheist* - Influencing legal reforms regarding oaths of office in the United Kingdom - Challenging religious privilege in British public institutions ## Body ### Early Life and Background Charles Bradlaugh was born on 26 September 1833 in Hoxton, London, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He was largely self-educated and worked as a cooper in his youth. Bradlaugh became interested in freethought and secularism early in life, influenced by radical political and philosophical writings. ### Political Career Bradlaugh was elected to the House of Commons for the Northampton constituency in 1880, 1883, and 1885. However, he was repeatedly denied his seat because he refused to take the religious oath required of MPs. Instead, he sought to affirm, which was not legally recognized at the time. This led to a prolonged legal and political struggle that lasted over a decade. His case eventually led to the passage of the Affirmation Act 1888, which allowed atheists and non-Christians to affirm their commitment to Parliament rather than swear a religious oath. Bradlaugh finally took his seat in 1886, after the law was changed. ### Publications and Writings Bradlaugh was a prolific writer and publisher. His works include: - *Why I am an Atheist* (1860) – A foundational text in the freethought movement. - *The Bible: Its Story, Its Value, Its Truth* (1860) – A critique of religious texts and their influence. - *A Plea for Atheism* (1864) – Argued for the moral and intellectual validity of atheism. - *The Impossibility of Atheistic Oaths* (1888) – A legal and philosophical argument against religious oaths. These works were widely distributed and helped shape public discourse on secularism and religious freedom. ### The Freethought Publishing Company In 1877, Bradlaugh co-founded The Freethought Publishing Company with Annie Besant. The company published books and pamphlets promoting secularism, social reform, and freedom of thought. It became a key institution in the British freethought movement, distributing literature that challenged religious orthodoxy and advocated for rationalism. ### The National Reformer Bradlaugh was the editor of *The National Reformer*, a weekly newspaper that served as a platform for freethought and social reform. The publication featured articles on secularism, women’s rights, labor rights, and political reform. It was instrumental in building a community of freethinkers and secularists in the UK. ### Legacy and Influence Charles Bradlaugh’s legacy includes: - Legal reform regarding oaths of office in the UK - Foundational texts in the freethought movement - A lasting influence on secularism and humanist thought - Advocacy for the rights of non-religious individuals in public life His work contributed to the broader secularization of British society and influenced later generations of freethinkers and humanists. Bradlaugh’s efforts helped establish the principle that public service should not be contingent on religious belief. ## References 1. Integrated Authority File 2. BnF authorities 3. Hansard 1803–2005 4. [Source](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001081/18840223/039/0003) 5. [Source](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000453/18820303/044/0003) 6. [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1882/feb/22/parliament-privilege-northampton-new-writ) 7. [Source](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000181/18810411/025/0002) 8. [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1881/apr/01/parliamentary-oath-mr-bradlaugh-new-writ) 9. Czech National Authority Database 10. International Standard Name Identifier 11. CiNii Research 12. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 13. SNAC 14. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 16. Virtual International Authority File 17. Catalogo of the National Library of India