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School of Thought: 18th Century Commonwealthmen

According to Caroline Robbins, the 18thC Commonwealthmen built upon the Old or Real Whig tradition and were active from the Glorious Revolution of 1688 to the eve of the American Revolution in 1776. They believed in natural rights, limited government, republicanism, parliamentary reform, the rule of law, religious toleration, the reform or ending of mercantilist economic regulation, increased independence for the colonies, secularized education, and of course, individual liberty.

John Milton (1608-1674) James Harrington (1611-1677) John Toland (1670-1722)

For more information see:

Caroline Robbins, The Eighteenth-Century Commonwealthman: Studies in the Transmission, Development, and Circumstance of English Liberal Thought from the Restoration of Charles II until the War with the Thirteen Colonies (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2004).

For additional information about the 18thC Commonwealthmen see the following:

17 People in this Group:

sort name ↑ name   birth   death  
Cumberland Richard Cumberland 1632 1718
Ferguson Adam Ferguson 1723 1816
Fletcher Andrew Fletcher 1655 1716
Gordon Thomas Thomas Gordon 1692 1750
Harrington James Harrington 1611 1677
Hollis Thomas Hollis 1720 1774
Hutcheson Francis Hutcheson 1694 1746
Millar John John Millar 1735 1801
Milton John Milton 1608 1674
Molyneux W William Molyneux 1656 1698
Price Richard Price 1723 1791
Priestley J Joseph Priestley 1733 1804
Shaftesbury Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury 1621 1683
Sidney Algernon Sidney 1622 1683
Toland John Toland 1670 1722
Trenchard John Trenchard 1662 1723
Tyrrell J James Tyrrell 1642 1718