William Cobbett was born in 1763, to a farmer and innkeeper. After “fleeing” from the army to America, he began his career as a journalist, publishing 12 volumes all of which were attacks on American democracy. He soon became known as Peter Porcupine.
He returned to England in 1800 and began publishing the weekly newsletter: Political Register in 1802, which critics named “Two penny trash”. Being philosophically conservative, he supported labourers' riots in 1830, and although he was initially anti-radical, he became radical because he thought that rapid industrialisation was going to be the downfall of traditional life. Nearly, 60, Cobbett began to write Rural Rides which focussed on his displeasure at parliamentary decisions that were neglecting rural life in favour for the industrialisation of Britain. Against the Corn Laws which put a tax on imported grain, Cobbett campaigned for parliamentary reform, for which he served two years in prison. However, afraid of a civil war, the government were forced to reform and introduced the reform acts in 1832.
Cobbett was elected to Parliament in 1832. Unfortunately, however, he died in 1835.
