1880AD Charles Bradlaugh, Political Activist,
Elected MP for Northampton
Charles Bradlaugh was a freethinker who wrote several pamphlets on politics and religion. He tried several times to be elected as MP for Northampton and was finally successful in 1880.

Charles was an atheist who wanted to 'affirm' rather than swear an oath of allegiance in Parliament. The speaker of the House of Commons refused and he was expelled from Parliament. William Gladstone, the Prime Minister, supported the right to affirm but a vote in Parliament went in favour of the Speaker.

Bradlaugh was eventually able to take his seat as an MP six years later, after several failed attempts, and after much campaigning for the rights of atheists.

He also campaigned for other controversial causes such as birth control, trade unionism and women's suffrage.

Want to know more, why not visit Northamptonshire Central Library?
Why not go and see the statue of Charles Bradlaugh in Abington Square?

Glossary:

Freethinker

A person who forms opinions about religion, politics, morals, etc., independently of tradition, authority, or established belief.

Atheist

A person who does not believe in the existence of any god

Trade unionism

A trade union is a collection of worker's in the same trade. The trade union movement was an attempt to get better conditions for the workers by organising themselves into unions.

Women's suffrage

Suffrage derives from the Latin suffragium meaning 'vote'. Women's suffrage was the campaign to get women the vote.

Speaker

The chief officer and highest authority of the House of Commons. The Speaker represents the Commons to the monarch, the Lords and other authorities.

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