Richard Cobden

1804–1865

Nationality: English

Historical Period: The 19th Century

Richard Cobden (1804-1865) was a member of the British Parliament and an advocate of free trade, a non-interventionist foreign policy, peace, and parliamentary reform. He is best remembered for his activity on behalf of the Anti-Corn Law League which helped reduce British tariffs in 1846 and for negotiating the Anglo-French trade agreement of 1860.

See the Liberty Matters online discussion on Richard Cobden: Ideas and Strategies in Organizing the Free-Trade Movement in Britain

Quotes from Richard Cobden:

• Richard Cobden on how free trade would unite mankind
• Richard Cobden on the folly of using force to “protect commerce”
• Richard Cobden on public opinion and peace on earth
• Richard Cobden argues that the British Empire will suffer retribution for its violence and injustice
• Richard Cobden on the complicity of the British in supporting war
• Richard Cobden on the principle of non-intervention in the affairs of other countries
• Richard Cobden urges the British Parliament not to be the “Don Quixotes of Europe”
• Richard Cobden reminds the Liberals in Parliament that the motto of their party is “Economy, Retrenchment, and Reform!”
• Richard Cobden’s “I have a dream” speech about a world in which free trade is the governing principle
• Richard Cobden outlines his strategy of encouraging more people to acquire land and thus the right to vote in order to defeat the “landed oligarchy” who ruled England and imposed the “iniquity” of the Corn Laws

Titles from Richard Cobden:

• Author: BOLL 30: Richard Cobden, “On the Total and Immediate Repeal of the Corn Laws” (1846)
• Author: The Corn Laws. Speech of R. Cobden
• Author: England, Ireland, and America
• Translator: On the Probable Fall in the Value of Gold
• Author: The Political Writings of Richard Cobden, in 2 vols.
• Author: The Political Writings of Richard Cobden, vol. 1
• Author: The Political Writings of Richard Cobden, vol. 2
• Author: Russia
• Author: Speeches on Free Trade
• Author: Speeches on Questions of Public Policy, 2 vols.
• Author: Speeches on Questions of Public Policy. Vol. 1 Free Trade and Finance
• Author: Speeches on Questions of Public Policy. Vol. 2 War, Peace, and Reform
• Author: What Next and Next?