William Cobbett

British journalist and moderate reformer. He wrote pamphlets criticizing the military and fled to America. He returned to the United States in 1800 and published the critical journal Cobbett's Weekly Political Register (1802-1835) and other publications, and also ran a large farm. He returned to the United States in 1807 and began to follow the teachings of T. Paine, whom he had previously criticized, and returned to the United States with his work. He traveled around England from 1821 to 1832, and serialised his conversations with farmers in Cobbett's Weekly Political Register, which was published as Rural Rides (1830). The book discusses agriculture, land systems, population, currency, taxes, religion, parliamentary reform, hunting laws, and more, criticising industrialism and describing rural poverty. He worked hard for parliamentary reform, and was a member of the House of Commons immediately after the 1832 electoral reform. He also compiled the history of the British parliament and its minutes.

[Atsushi Shirai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イギリスのジャーナリスト。穏健な改革論者。軍隊批判のパンフレットを書いてアメリカへ逃れ、1800年帰国して評論誌『週刊政治録』Cobbett's Weekly Political Register（1802～1835）などを発行し、大農経営も行った。1807年再渡米して、かつて批判したT・ペインの説に従うようになり、その骨を持って帰国した。1821～1832年イングランドを旅し、農民と語った記録を『週刊政治録』に連載し、『農村騎行』Rural Rides（1830）として出版。同書は、農業、土地制度、人口、通貨、税、宗教、議会改革、狩猟法などを論じ、産業主義を非難し農村の貧困を描いている。議会改革に努力し、1832年の選挙法改正直後下院議員。イギリスの議会史および議事録も編集した。

［白井　厚］

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