| AdminHistory | John Bright (1811-1889) was a British politician, one of the greatest orators of his generation and a promoter of free trade, electoral reform and religious freedom. He was Radical Member of Parliament for Durham in 1843-1847, and Liberal MP for Birmingham in 1858-1889.
Bright is most famous for battling the Corn Laws. In partnership with Richard Cobden, he founded the Anti-Corn Law League, aimed at abolishing the Corn Laws, which raised food prices and protected landowners' interests by levying taxes on imported wheat.
Alexander Ireland (1810-1894) was a Scottish journalist and man of letters. In 1846, he succeeded Edward Watkin as publisher and manager of the Manchester Examiner, a paper founded the year before by Watkin, Bright, and William McKerrow, on behalf of the Anti-Corn Law League. He was also the son of Mrs [Mary] Ireland, who corresponded with Thomas Campbell (see MS MISC/2/C/1/3). |