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This series comprises contemporary or near-contemporary accounts of the political, economic and social history of the British Isles during the nineteenth century. It includes material on international diplomacy and trade, labour relations and the women's movement, developments in education and social welfare, religious emancipation, the justice system and special events including the Great Exhibition of 1851.

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240 results in Cambridge Library Collection - British and Irish History, 19th Century

Page 1 of 12

The Life and Times of Henry Lord Brougham
  • Written by Himself
  • Volume 1
  • Henry Brougham
  • Published online:
    05 June 2015
    Print publication:
    19 March 2015
  • A child prodigy, Henry Brougham (1778–1868), later Lord Brougham and Vaux, entered in 1792 the University of Edinburgh, where he focused on mathematics and then law, while his amateur scientific studies led him to become a fellow of the Royal Society at the age of twenty-five. Called to both the Scottish and English bars, and moving in radical political circles, he became famous as a defender of free speech, a passionate abolitionist, and co-founder of the Edinburgh Review. After many years as an MP, he was given a peerage in 1830 and became Lord Chancellor in Lord Grey's Whig government, where he was instrumental in the passing of the 1832 Reform Act. This three-volume autobiography was published posthumously in 1871, with additional notes. Covering the period up to 1811, Volume 1 describes Brougham's family background, early life, influential teachers, and entry into politics.

The Life and Times of Henry Lord Brougham
  • Written by Himself
  • Volume 2
  • Henry Brougham
  • Published online:
    05 June 2015
    Print publication:
    19 March 2015
  • A child prodigy, Henry Brougham (1778–1868), later Lord Brougham and Vaux, entered in 1792 the University of Edinburgh, where he focused on mathematics and then law, while his amateur scientific studies led him to become a fellow of the Royal Society at the age of twenty-five. Called to both the Scottish and English bars, and moving in radical political circles, he became famous as a defender of free speech, a passionate abolitionist, and co-founder of the Edinburgh Review. After many years as an MP, he was given a peerage in 1830 and became Lord Chancellor in Lord Grey's Whig government, where he was instrumental in the passing of the 1832 Reform Act. This three-volume autobiography was published posthumously in 1871, with additional notes. Volume 2 covers the period 1811–28, including the scandal of George IV's marriage, during which Brougham advised Queen Caroline.

The Life and Times of Henry Lord Brougham
  • Written by Himself
  • Volume 3
  • Henry Brougham
  • Published online:
    05 June 2015
    Print publication:
    19 March 2015
  • A child prodigy, Henry Brougham (1778–1868), later Lord Brougham and Vaux, entered in 1792 the University of Edinburgh, where he focused on mathematics and then law, while his amateur scientific studies led him to become a fellow of the Royal Society at the age of twenty-five. Called to both the Scottish and English bars, and moving in radical political circles, he became famous as a defender of free speech, a passionate abolitionist, and co-founder of the Edinburgh Review. After many years as an MP, he was given a peerage in 1830 and became Lord Chancellor in Lord Grey's Whig government, where he was instrumental in the passing of the 1832 Reform Act. This three-volume autobiography was published posthumously in 1871, with additional notes. Volume 3 covers the period of Brougham's chancellorship, and his later career as a radical politician, ending with some pen-portraits of notable contemporaries, including Lords Holland and Palmerston.

Life of Sir John Lubbock, Lord Avebury
  • Volume 2
  • Horace G. Hutchinson
  • Published online:
    05 June 2015
    Print publication:
    30 October 2014
  • The achievements of the polymath Sir John Lubbock (1834–1913) spanned banking, politics, science and philanthropy. First published in 1914, this two-volume biography by Horace G. Hutchinson (1859–1932) traces Lubbock's extraordinary life and career. Hutchinson, who knew his subject in later years, paints a highly favourable portrait of Lubbock's varied accomplishments. Notably, Lubbock became a partner of his father's bank at twenty-two, a Member of Parliament in 1870, and in 1900 received the title of Baron Avebury. Tutored in natural history by Charles Darwin in his youth, he remained fascinated by evolutionary theory: it influenced his archaeological and anthropological work, including Pre-Historic Times as Illustrated by Ancient Remains (1865) and The Origin of Civilisation and the Primitive Condition of Man (1870), both reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection. Volume 2 focuses on Lubbock's later life, with Hutchinson remarking that by seventy Lubbock was still politically active and in good health.

Life of Sir John Lubbock, Lord Avebury
  • Volume 1
  • Horace G. Hutchinson
  • Published online:
    05 June 2015
    Print publication:
    30 October 2014
  • The achievements of the polymath Sir John Lubbock (1834–1913) spanned banking, politics, science and philanthropy. First published in 1914, this two-volume biography by Horace G. Hutchinson (1859–1932) traces Lubbock's extraordinary life and career. Hutchinson, who knew his subject in later years, paints a highly favourable portrait of Lubbock's varied accomplishments. Notably, Lubbock became a partner of his father's bank at twenty-two, a Member of Parliament in 1870, and in 1900 received the title of Baron Avebury. Tutored in natural history by Charles Darwin in his youth, he remained fascinated by evolutionary theory: it influenced his archaeological and anthropological work, including Pre-Historic Times as Illustrated by Ancient Remains (1865) and The Origin of Civilisation and the Primitive Condition of Man (1870), both reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection. Volume 1 covers Lubbock's early childhood and private education, his introduction to banking, and Darwin's influence on his passion for science.

On Financial Reform
  • Henry Parnell
  • Published online:
    05 January 2015
    Print publication:
    28 August 2014
  • Prior to its publication in 1830, the draft of this work by Sir Henry Parnell, later Baron Congleton (1776–1842), was praised by John Stuart Mill, who said he could 'not see that it is possible to lay down the principles of political economy more broadly'. Chair of the select committee on public income and expenditure during the Duke of Wellington's first ministry, Parnell called for greater retrenchment and reduced taxation. He also argues here that 'the passage of merchandise from one state to another … ought to be as free as air and water', denouncing the supporters of protection as 'among the greatest enemies of mankind'. A later pamphlet by Parnell, A Plain Statement of the Power of the Bank of England (1832), highly critical of the Bank's monopoly, is included in this reissue. His Treatise on Roads (1833) is reissued separately in the Cambridge Library Collection.

Hints on Self-Help
  • A Book for Young Women
  • Jessie Boucherett
  • Published online:
    05 December 2014
    Print publication:
    21 August 2014
  • A determined campaigner for women's rights, Jessie Boucherett (1825–1905) helped to draft Britain's first female suffrage petition in 1866 and founded the Englishwoman's Review in the same year. Originally published in 1863 and reissued here in its 1866 printing, the present work is her call to arms for young women of all classes to pursue their independence through education and employment. Emphasising the risk of trusting in men to provide for women, she urges her readers to support themselves, first through education and then through remunerative work. She includes examples of the various trades open to women and examines the cases of women who have not only succeeded but excelled in their occupations. The appendices give details of institutions where women could receive training. Reflecting and refining the Victorian concern with self-improvement, this work remains relevant to social historians and readers interested in the women's movement.

A Journey through England and Scotland to the Hebrides in 1784
  • A Revised Edition of the English Translation
  • Volume 1
  • Barthélemy Faujas de St-Fond
  • Edited and translated by Archibald Geikie
  • Published online:
    18 December 2014
    Print publication:
    08 May 2014
  • The French geologist Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond (1741–1819) abandoned the legal profession to pursue studies in natural history, working at the museum of natural history in Paris and as royal commissioner of mines. His enthusiasm for geology took him in 1784 to Britain, to investigate the basalt formations on the Hebridean island of Staffa described by Sir Joseph Banks in Pennant's Tour in Scotland (also reissued in this series). His subsequent account was published in France in 1797, and first translated into English in an abridged form in 1814. This two-volume annotated translation by the well-known geologist Sir Archibald Geikie (1835–1924), prefaced by a short biography of Faujas, was published in 1907. The work is interesting for its social as well as its geological observations. Volume 1 describes life in scientific circles in London, before recounting Faujas' journey to the Highlands of Scotland via Edinburgh and Glasgow.

A Journey through England and Scotland to the Hebrides in 1784
  • A Revised Edition of the English Translation
  • Volume 2
  • Barthélemy Faujas de St-Fond
  • Edited and translated by Archibald Geikie
  • Published online:
    18 December 2014
    Print publication:
    08 May 2014
  • The French geologist Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond (1741–1819) abandoned the legal profession to pursue studies in natural history, working at the museum of natural history in Paris and as royal commissioner of mines. His enthusiasm for geology took him in 1784 to Britain, to investigate the basalt formations on the Hebridean island of Staffa described by Sir Joseph Banks in Pennant's Tour in Scotland (also reissued in this series). His subsequent account was published in France in 1797, and first translated into English in an abridged form in 1814. This two-volume annotated translation by the well-known geologist Sir Archibald Geikie (1835–1924), prefaced by a short biography of Faujas, was published in 1907. The work is interesting for its social as well as its geological observations. Volume 2 describes the geology and natural history of the Hebrides. On his return journey, Faujas also visits the geological marvels of Derbyshire.

The Popular Guide to the International Exhibition of 1862
  • Edward McDermott
  • Published online:
    05 November 2014
    Print publication:
    20 March 2014
  • This helpful guide for visitors appeared in 1862 to accompany London's International Exhibition of that year. Held in South Kensington from May to November, the Exhibition showcased the progress made in a diverse range of crafts, trades and industries since the Great Exhibition of 1851. Over 6 million visitors came to view the wares of more than 28,000 exhibitors from Britain, her empire and beyond. Intended as a guided tour, the present work points out the most interesting exhibits along the way, touching on mining, pharmaceuticals, machinery, musical instruments, textiles, ceramics, furniture, clothing and jewellery, among much else. Containing a ground plan of the exhibition space as well as many contemporary advertisements, this publication remains an instructive resource for social and economic historians. Also relating to the 1862 Exhibition, both the official and illustrated catalogues of the industrial department are reissued in this series.

The Illustrated Record of the International Exhibition ... of All Nations, in 1862
  • Taliaferro Preston Shaffner, W. Owen
  • Published online:
    05 November 2014
    Print publication:
    20 March 2014
  • An American inventor and entrepreneur, Taliaferro Preston Shaffner (1818–81) collaborated with the Rev. W. Owen on this 'guided tour' of London's 1862 International Exhibition, showcasing Victorian achievements in technology and the arts. Described here are exhibits, originating from Britain, her empire and beyond, which include early washing machines and lawnmowers, as well as grand ideas for metropolitan drainage systems and a Channel Tunnel. The arts are also well covered, with descriptions of the latest fabrics, wallpapers, musical instruments, ceramics and photography. The authors also give background details of how the International Exhibition built upon the success of the Great Exhibition of 1851. Illustrated with sixty full-page steel engravings, this is a highly detailed guide to a very modern event. Also relating to the exhibition, Edward McDermott's Popular Guide and both the official and illustrated catalogues of the industrial department have been reissued in this series.

Aedes Hartwellianae
  • Or, Notices of the Manor and Mansion of Hartwell
  • Volume 1
  • William Henry Smyth
  • Published online:
    05 October 2014
    Print publication:
    20 February 2014
  • The astronomer John Lee (1783–66) inherited Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire in 1827. During its colourful history, the mansion had notably been occupied between 1809 and 1814 by the exiled court of Louis XVIII. Lee turned the house into something of a museum for his antiquarian and scientific interests, constructing an observatory to the design of the his close friend William Henry Smyth (1788–1865), after whom Lee named a lunar sea. A naval officer, Smyth had helped to found the Royal Geographical Society in 1830. His Sidereal Chromatics (1864) and The Sailor's Word-Book (1867) are also reissued in this series. This charming history and description of Hartwell, its grounds, buildings and contents, appeared in two volumes between 1851 and 1864, illuminating especially the practice of contemporary astronomy. Illustrated throughout, the first volume (1851) includes coverage relating to the locality, the lords of the manor, the collected antiquities and the observatory.

Aedes Hartwellianae
  • Addenda to the Aedes Hartwellianae
  • Volume 2
  • William Henry Smyth
  • Published online:
    05 October 2014
    Print publication:
    20 February 2014
  • The astronomer John Lee (1783–66) inherited Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire in 1827. During its colourful history, the mansion had notably been occupied between 1809 and 1814 by the exiled court of Louis XVIII. Lee turned the house into something of a museum for his antiquarian and scientific interests, constructing an observatory to the design of the his close friend William Henry Smyth (1788–1865), after whom Lee named a lunar sea. A naval officer, Smyth had helped to found the Royal Geographical Society in 1830. His Sidereal Chromatics (1864) and The Sailor's Word-Book (1867) are also reissued in this series. This charming history and description of Hartwell, its grounds, buildings and contents, appeared in two volumes between 1851 and 1864, illuminating especially the practice of contemporary astronomy. Illustrated throughout, the second volume (1864) serves as a supplement, recording Smyth's researches in the years since the first volume went to press.

Guide to the Mount's Bay and the Land's End
  • Comprehending the Topography, Botany, Agriculture, Fisheries, Antiquities, Mining, Mineralogy and Geology of Western Cornwall
  • John Ayrton Paris
  • Published online:
    05 October 2014
    Print publication:
    13 February 2014
  • President of the Royal College of Physicians from 1844 until his death, John Ayrton Paris (1785–1856) wrote chiefly on medical topics, yet he also devoted time to the study of science and natural history. He served as physician to the Penzance Dispensary between 1813 and 1817, during which time he helped to establish what became the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall. First published anonymously in 1816, and reissued here in the second edition of 1824, this work explores the landscapes and natural history of the western part of Cornwall. Presented as a series of 'excursions', the guide takes in locations such as St Michael's Mount and the Lizard, also covering the rich mining districts at Redruth and St Just, and discussing local customs, the Cornish language and the health-giving climate. Several of Paris's medical and biographical works are also reissued in this series, including his life of the Cornish chemist Sir Humphry Davy.

The Principal Speeches and Addresses of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort
  • With an Introduction, Giving Some Outlines of his Character
  • Albert Prince Consort
  • Edited by Arthur Helps
  • Published online:
    05 October 2014
    Print publication:
    12 December 2013
  • Initially faced with popular mistrust, Prince Albert (1819–61) fought hard to establish his own role both in public and in his marriage to Queen Victoria. Before he died, he came to be recognised as an influential figure in a kind of dual monarchy, acting as an intermediary with prime ministers and orchestrating the hugely complicated but ultimately successful Great Exhibition of 1851. This collection of speeches, edited by Sir Arthur Helps (1813–75) and published in 1862, was compiled at the request of the widowed Victoria. The speeches reflect the Prince's standing in public life and his unusual position as a consort who was afforded wide-ranging responsibilities. Clerk of the Privy Council, Helps had known Albert personally and his introduction provides an overwhelmingly positive character sketch. Official biographer Theodore Martin's five-volume Life of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort (1875–80) is also reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection.

Perran-Zabuloe
  • With an Account of the Past and Present State of the Oratory of St Piran in the Sands
  • William Haslam
  • Published online:
    05 October 2014
    Print publication:
    12 December 2013
  • The curate William Haslam (1817–1905) focuses here on the ruins of St Piran's oratory, for many years lost to Cornwall's shifting sands. First published in 1844, his work laments the site's fate: first destroyed by its environment, then, upon its rediscovery, pillaged by trophy hunters. Highlighting the importance of Cornwall's frequently overlooked ecclesiastical antiquities, of which the oratory is perhaps the most compelling example, Haslam also gives an account of his local parish. The work describes the surrounding landscape, before going into an analysis of the oratory itself, with a small number of accompanying illustrations. An account of the life of St Piran, who has come to be regarded as Cornwall's patron saint, complements the history of Christianity's growth in the area, which resulted in the oratory's construction. With a strong emphasis on the oratory's importance as an early Christian site, this study will appeal to readers interested in architectural, church and local history.

Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands
  • Edited by W. J. S.; With an Introductory Preface by W. H. Russell
  • Mary Seacole
  • Preface by William Howard Russell
  • Published online:
    05 October 2014
    Print publication:
    21 November 2013
  • The daughter of a Scottish soldier and a Jamaican herbalist, Mary Seacole (1805–81) gained recognition for her provision of care to British troops during the Crimean War. She had travelled widely in the Caribbean and Panama before venturing to England to volunteer as an army nurse in the Crimea. Although rebuffed by officials, an undeterred Seacole funded her own expedition, establishing the British Hotel near Balaclava to provide a refuge for wounded officers. Known affectionately as 'Mother Seacole' among the men, yet returning to England bankrupt at the end of hostilities, she had her plight highlighted in the press. First published in 1857, and reissued here in its 1858 printing, her autobiography was intended to share her story and restore to her some financial security. Probably dictated to her editor, who then polished the text for publication, this was the first autobiography by a black woman in Britain.

Official Catalogue of the Industrial Department
  • Published online:
    05 October 2014
    Print publication:
    31 October 2013
  • This official catalogue, reissued here in its updated third edition, appeared in 1862 to accompany London's International Exhibition of that year. Held from May to November in South Kensington, on a site now occupied by the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, the exhibition served to showcase the progress that had been made in a diverse range of crafts, trades and industries since the Great Exhibition of 1851. Over 6 million visitors came to view the wares of more than 28,000 exhibitors from Britain, her empire and beyond. The catalogue contains brief entries for participants, giving details of their name, location and products. The coverage includes mining, engineering, textiles, ceramics, metals, printing, photography, musical instruments, and pharmaceuticals. Containing a ground plan of the exhibition space as well as many contemporary advertisements, this publication remains an instructive resource for social and economic historians.

Reformatory Schools
  • For the Children of the Perishing and Dangerous Classes, and for Juvenile Offenders
  • Mary Carpenter
  • Published online:
    05 October 2014
    Print publication:
    31 October 2013
  • Daughter of a Unitarian minister and schoolmaster, the penal reformer and educationist Mary Carpenter (1807–77) grew up in a pious family with a strong sense of obligation to those who were less fortunate. Moved by the appalling circumstances of destitute children in Bristol, she established her first ragged school in 1846. In her bid to improve the difficult lives of juvenile delinquents, her enlightened philosophy was one of rehabilitation rather than retribution, emphasising the importance of giving children a sense of self-worth. These views form the basis of this landmark work, first published in 1851. Marshalling a range of evidence in support of her argument, Carpenter highlights the need for radical change in the treatment of young offenders. Her lobbying bore fruit in England with the passage of the Youthful Offenders Act (1854), described as 'the Magna Carta of the neglected child'.

Memoirs of Alexis Soyer
  • With Unpublished Receipts and Odds and Ends of Gastronomy
  • Alexis Soyer
  • Edited by F. Volant, J. R. Warren
  • Published online:
    05 March 2014
    Print publication:
    22 August 2013
  • Perhaps the first celebrity chef, Alexis Soyer (1810–58) was a flamboyant, larger-than-life character who nonetheless took his profession very seriously. As the chef of the Reform Club, he modernised its kitchens, installing refrigerators and gas cookers. In 1851, during the Great Exhibition, he prepared spectacular (but financially ruinous) culinary extravaganzas at his restaurant, the Gastronomic Symposium of All Nations. In stark contrast, he organised soup kitchens during the Great Famine in Ireland and volunteered his services in the Crimea in 1855 to improve military catering. He was also a prolific inventor of kitchen gadgets, notably promoting the Magic Stove, used for cooking food at the table. Several of his highly popular cookery books have been reissued in this series. Following his death, his secretaries François Volant and James Warren published this anecdotal and admiring biography in 1859, together with recipes and other cookery writings.

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