1760 - 1815
Aspiring for popular rights
Timeline of some of the major events and milestones during the years 1760 to 1815. Read the background section to put these into context.
- 1763
- Action is instigated against John Wilkes MP for the publication of a seditious libel against the government in The North Briton.
- 1766
- Widespread food riots in East Anglia, the midlands, central Southern England and the West Country.
- 1768-70
- John Wilkes returns from 4 years in exile and is elected MP for Middlesex.
- 1771
- The Corporation of London campaigned for the freedom of parliamentary reporting in newspapers.
- 1776
- American Declaration of Independence.
- 1776
- Major Cartwright's Take Your Choice publication advocates universal suffrage and annual parliaments.
- 1776
- John Wilkes seeks leave to bring in a bill to introduce a 'just and equal' parliament.
- 1779
- Formation of the 'Yorkshire Association'; in favour of moderate parliamentary reform for which it petitioned parliament the following year.
- 1779
- Spinners break into Arkwright's spinning-house near Chorley in Lancashire and set fire to it.
- 1783
- William Pitt the Younger introduces a limited reform bill but it is defeated in the House of Commons.
- 1785
- William Pitt the Younger introduces a bill to remove the representation of thirty-six rotten boroughs and to extend the electoral franchise to more individuals; the bill is defeated in the House of Commons.
- 1789
- French Revolution
- 1791-92
- Thomas Paine's Rights of Man is published in two parts.
- 1792
- London Corresponding Society established. Similar societies are formed across Britain around the same time.
- 1792
- Mary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of Women is published.
- 1793
- Britain is at war with France.
- 1793-4
- Leaders of the British Convention at Edinburgh are arrested, tried and sentenced. Radical leaders in England are arrested but found not guilty of high treason
- 1797
- British naval mutinies.
- 1799
- Combination Acts outlaw trade unions.
- 1799
- Corresponding societies are made illegal.
- 1802
- Textile workers in Wiltshire: woollen workers destroyed several mills.
- 1802
- Health and Morals of Apprentices Act: the first 'Factory Act'
- 1803
- Execution of Colonel Despard for high treason.
- 1807
- The Abolition of Slave Trade Act outlaws the British Atlantic slave trade.
- 1811-16
- Luddite attacks in several midland and northern counties; mainly Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire
- 1812
- Killing of Spencer Perceval, Prime Minister.
- 1812
- The London Hampden Club is formed to promote the cause of parliamentary reform.
- 1815
- War with France ends: mass demobilisation of armed forces.
Human Rights
