# William Cobbett

> English pamphleteer, farmer and journalist (1763–1835)

**Wikidata**: [Q2141938](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2141938)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cobbett)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-cobbett

## Summary
William Cobbett was an English pamphleteer, farmer, and journalist (1763–1835) known for his radical political writings and advocacy for working-class rights. He gained fame through his influential pamphlets, particularly *Rural Rides* (1830–1832), which exposed the harsh conditions of rural laborers and inspired the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834.

## Biography
- Born: 1763
- Nationality: English
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Radical political pamphleteering and advocacy for working-class rights
- Employer(s): Self-employed as a farmer and journalist
- Field(s): Political writing, journalism, agriculture

## Contributions
- *Rural Rides* (1830–1832): A series of pamphlets documenting the plight of rural laborers, which influenced the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834.
- Political activism: Advocated for reforms in land tenure, labor rights, and social welfare.

## FAQs
- **What was William Cobbett known for?** Cobbett was known for his radical political pamphlets, particularly *Rural Rides*, which exposed the suffering of rural laborers and influenced key reforms.
- **Where did William Cobbett work?** Cobbett worked as a self-employed farmer and journalist, publishing his works independently.
- **What was the impact of *Rural Rides*?** *Rural Rides* helped shape the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, which improved conditions for rural laborers.

## Why They Matter
William Cobbett’s work as a political writer and journalist had a lasting impact on British social reform. His detailed accounts of rural poverty and labor exploitation inspired legislative changes that improved working conditions. His advocacy for the working class set a precedent for future reform movements.

## Notable For
- Author of *Rural Rides*, a landmark work on rural poverty
- Influenced the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834
- Advocate for working-class rights and social reform

## Body
### Early Life
William Cobbett was born in 1763. Little is known about his early life, but he later became a prominent figure in political writing and journalism.

### Career
Cobbett began his career as a farmer but gained wider recognition as a political writer. His pamphlets, particularly *Rural Rides*, exposed the harsh realities of rural labor and inspired reforms.

### Contributions
- *Rural Rides* (1830–1832): Cobbett’s series of pamphlets documented the suffering of rural laborers, leading to the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834.
- Political activism: Cobbett advocated for reforms in land tenure, labor rights, and social welfare, influencing broader debates on class and poverty.

### Influence
Cobbett’s work had a significant impact on British social reform. His detailed accounts of rural poverty and labor exploitation helped shape key legislative changes. His advocacy for the working class set a precedent for future reform movements.

### Legacy
William Cobbett remains a key figure in the history of political writing and social reform. His writings continue to be studied for their insights into 19th-century labor conditions and their role in shaping reform legislation.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. Hansard 1803–2005
4. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
5. Library of the World's Best Literature
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. [Source](http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13530954)
10. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
11. SNAC
12. Dictionary of Canadian Biography
13. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
14. Croatian Encyclopedia
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [Source](https://cartoons.osu.edu/biographical-files/)
17. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Cobbett%20William)
18. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index4.html)
19. [Source](https://nble.lib.unb.ca/browse/c/william-cobbett)
20. BBC Things
21. CERL Thesaurus
22. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
23. LIBRIS. 2012
24. FactGrid
25. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
26. Catalogo of the National Library of India