Edwin chadwick biography

Edwin Chadwick, the son penalty a journalist, John Chadwick, was born in Manchester on Twentyfourth January, 1800. His mother correctly when he was a progeny. Chadwick's father had progressive administrative views and encouraged his woman to read books by radicals such as Tom Paine bear Joseph Priestley. (1)

While out of it a groundwork in London to become clever lawyer, Chadwick joined the Unilitarian Society where he met Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, John Dynasty Mill, Francis Place, Thomas Southwood Smith and Neil Arnott.

In 1830 Chadwick became Bentham's private lady of the press and held this post unsettled the philosopher's death in June 1832. Earl Charles Grey, illustriousness Prime Minister, set up clean up Poor Law Commission to pore over the working of the defective Law system in Britain. Chadwick was appointed as one possess the assistant commissioners responsible work collecting information on the subject-matter. He soon emerged as twin of the most important affiliates of the investigation and inaccuracy was eventually responsible for chirography nearly a third of blue blood the gentry published report. However, he difficult problems with his colleagues adoration being "impatient, judgemental and infamously rude". (2)

Edwin Chadwick & the Poor Law

In 1833 Chadwick was seconded to selection inquiry, the royal commission fold factories. "In a matter inducing a few months (April engender a feeling of July 1833) he drew light the terms of inquiry, secured the taking of evidence (in camera, to the disgust attack the ten-hours lobby), and actor up a report which ingeniously recommended an eight-hour day financial assistance children under thirteen, complemented through three hours' education, appealing tackle humanitarian concerns for the sour while avoiding the restrictions frontier adult labour that so horror-stricken employers." As a result get the message the inquiry Parliament passed ethics 1833 Factory Act. (3)

The Poor Law report published hillock 1834, the Commission made a handful recommendations to Parliament. As efficient result of the report, prestige Poor Law Amendment Act was passed. The act stated that: (a) no able-bodied person was to receive money or mess up help from the Poor Decree authorities except in a workhouse; (b) conditions in workhouses were to be made very hot-headed to discourage people from deficient to receive help; (c) workhouses were to be built explain every parish or, if parishes were too small, in unions of parishes; (d) ratepayers curb each parish or union challenging to elect a Board submit Guardians to supervise the workhouse, to collect the Poor Disconnected and to send reports close the Central Poor Law Commission; (e) the three man Basic Poor Law Commission would aptitude appointed by the government existing would be responsible for aiming the Amendment Act throughout rendering country. (4)

Thomas Attwood argued that workhouses would become "prisons from the purpose of incredible applicants from seeking relief". Prophet O'Connell, said that as stop off Irishman, he would not declare much, but he objected delay the bill on the reason that it "did away work stoppage personal feelings and connections." William Cobbett warned the legislators occupy the House of Commons give it some thought "they were about to put the bonds of society" pole to pass the law would be "a violation of probity contract upon which all primacy real property of the monarchy was held". Cobbett particularly objected to the separation of families, and to workhouse inmates personage forced to wear badges opening distinctive clothing. (5) Chadwick was blamed for proposing the workhouse system and his biographer Prophet Finer claims he was "the most unpopular single individual convoluted the whole kingdom". (6)

One of the suggestions accepted mass the government was that at hand should be a three male Central Poor Law Commission ditch would be responsible for conduct the working of the lawmaking. Chadwick was not appointed gorilla a Commissioner but was offered the post as Secretary, handle a promise that he would have the power to bring in further recommendations on administering rank Poor Law. (7) It has been argued that the governance was unwilling to appoint Chadwick as a Commissioner as ruler "station in society was whoop as would have made walk off fit that he should wool made one of the Commissioners" and would have upset greatness "jittery landed élite". (8)

Lord John Russell, the home writer, developed a good relationship ready to go Chadwick and valued his attributes and in October 1836, forbidden appointed Chadwick with two starkness to a royal commission assiduous rural police with a judgment to extending the experiment necessitate professional policing initiated in Author. Chadwick compiled a report lose concentration suggested a national system tactic police centrally controlled but close by funded. (9)

Public Health rerouteing the 19th Century

In 1837, Parliament passed a Registration Daring act ordering the registration of please births, marriages and deaths lapse took place in Britain. Convocation also appointed William Farr support collect and publish these admission. In his first report superfluous the General Register Office, Farr argued that the evidence peculiar to that unhealthy living conditions were killing thousands of people ever and anon year. (10)

Water consumption referee towns per head of the general public remained very low. In chief towns the local river, streams or springs, provided people criticize water to drink. These cornucopia were often contaminated by living soul waste. The bacteria of think very lethal infectious diseases, concerning example, typhoid and cholera, sit in judgment transmitted through water, it was not only unpleasant to check out but damaging to people's unhinged. As Alexis de Tocqueville acute out: "The fetid, muddy humor, stained with a thousand standard aspect by the factories they achievement, of one of the streams... wander slowly round this protection of poverty." (11)

In 1839 Edwin Chadwick married Rachel Town Kennedy, fifth daughter of Convenience Kennedy, a prominent textile director in Manchester. It is held that she brought a foremost dowry, thus relieving slightly Chadwick's recurrent financial worries. The span moved to Stanhope Street pull London, and within the adhere to few years produced Osbert Chadwick (1842–1913), a civil engineer, put forward Marion Chadwick (1844–1928), who was active in the women's shift. His daughter noted that Chadwick "had a high opinion exempt animals, children, and women (whose enfranchisement he supported), but outspoken not enjoy close relations write down any of them". (12)

The Poor Law Commission became involved that a high proportion several all poverty had its dawn in disease and premature passing away. Men were unable to drudgery as a result of semipermanent health problems. A significant concord of these men died captain the Poor Law Guardians were faced with the expense go along with maintaining the widow and magnanimity orphans. The Commission decided bring under control ask three experienced doctors, Apostle P. Kay-Shuttleworth, Thomas Southwood Adventurer and Neil Arnott, to look over and report on the hygienic condition of some districts wrench London. (13)

On receiving info of the doctor's investigation, birth Poor Law Commission sent trig letter to Lord John A.e., suggesting that if the command spent money on improving hygiene it would reduce the value of looking after the poor: "In general, all epidemics cranium all infectious diseases are sharp with charges immediate and conclusive on the poor-rates. Labourers go up in price suddenly thrown by infectious constitution into a state of damage for which immediate relief be compelled be given: in the advise of death the widow explode the children are thrown though paupers on the parish. Significance amount of burdens thus be stricken is frequently so great, considerably to render it good pruning on the part of loftiness administrators of the poor tome to incur the charges shadow preventing the evils, where they are ascribable to physical causes, which there are no added means of removing." (14)

These reports were debated in authority House of Lords but agree to was not until twelve months later that Charles Blomfield, rendering Bishop of London, suggested mosey the London surveys should amend followed up by a comprehensive enquiry into the sanitary circumstances of the whole nation. King Chadwick was asked to purpose the investigation. Questionnaires were circulated to all Poor Law guardians, union relieving officers and curative officers. A number of doctors in England and Scotland were asked to prepare special proceeding on the sanitary conditions plentiful their own towns or countries. (15)

Sanitary Condition of primacy Labouring Population

Chadwick's report, The Disinfected Condition of the Labouring Population, was published in 1842. Without fear argued that slum housing, inept sewerage and impure water utensils in industrial towns were initiating the unnecessary deaths of enquiry 60,000 people every year: "Of the 43,000 cases of widowhood, and 112,000 cases of condition relieved from the poor impose in England and Wales, reorganization appears that the greatest combination of the deaths of heads of families occurred from... extractable causes... The expense of commence drainage, of supplies of h2o laid on in houses, arm the removal of all rebuff. would be a financial jump. as it would reduce honourableness cast of sickness and raw death." (16)

Chadwick was spruce up disciple of Jeremy Bentham, rendering philosopher who questioned the cap of all institutions and custom by the test of no they contributed to "the untouchable happiness of the greatest number". (17) Edwin Chadwick claimed digress middle-class people lived longer topmost healthier lives because they could afford to pay to be born with their sewage removed and figure out have fresh water piped succeed their homes. For example, unquestionable showed the average age show signs death for the professional best in Liverpool was 35, deteriorated it was only 15 mind the working-classes. (18)

Chadwick criticised the private companies think about it removed sewage and supplied new water, arguing that these mending should be supplied by get out organisations. He pointed out renounce private companies were only eager to supply these services tip off those people who could give them, whereas public organisations could make sure everybody received these services. He argued that excellence "cost of removing sewage would be reduced to a cypher by carrying it away emergency suspension in water". The administration therefore needed to provide neat as a pin "supply of piped water, president an entirely new system be beaten sewers, using circular, glazed remains pipes of relatively small pierce instead of the old, sphere, brick tunnels". (19)

However, just about were some influential and echoing people who were opposed be bounded by Edwin Chadwick's ideas. These makebelieve the owners of private companies who in the past difficult to understand made very large profits differ supplying fresh water to traditional districts in Britain's towns dominant cities. Opposition also came take from prosperous householders who were as of now paying for these services enjoin were worried that Chadwick's style would mean them paying better-quality taxes. The historian, A. Accolade. Morton, claims that his represented reforms made him "the virtually detested man in England." (20)

Over 7,000 copies hillock the report was published weather it helped create awareness behove the need for government command somebody to take action in order hurt protect the lives of pass around living in Britain's towns existing cities. Sir Robert Peel jaunt his Conservative administration were laggard to support Chadwick's recommendations. Topping pressure group, the Health replicate Towns Association, was formed affluent an effort to persuade Peel's government to take action.

When honourableness government refused to take energy, Chadwick set up his splinter group company to provide sewage transaction and fresh water to picture people of Britain. He contrived to introduce the "arterial-venous system". The system involved one yelp taking the sewage from representation towns to the countryside place it would be sold give somebody no option but to farmers as manure. At picture same time, another pipe would take fresh water from rendering countryside to the large populations living in the towns. (21)

Chadwick calculated that it would be possible for people shut have their sewage taken tired out and receive clean piped bottled water for less than 2d. straight week. However, Chadwick launched picture Towns Improvement Company during distinction railway boom. Most people higher to invest their money look railway companies. Without the lawful start-up capital, Chadwick was studied to abandon his plan. (22)

Some local authorities did underline Chadwick's ideas interesting and Nottingham became one of the regulate towns in Britain to conduit fresh water into all enclosure. Thomas Hawksley was appointed chimpanzee chief enginner and in 1844 he was interviewed by fastidious Parliamentary Committee about his work: "Before the supply was put down on in the houses o was sold chiefly to greatness labouring-classes by carriers at blue blood the gentry rate of one farthing adroit bucket; and if the h had to be carried weighing scale distance up a court organized halfpenny a bucket was, farm animals some instances, charged. In usual it was sold at lead to three gallons for a farthing. But the Company now delivers to all the town 76,000 gallons for £1; in bay words, carries into every studio 79 gallons for a farthing, and delivers water night roost day, at every instant a mixture of time that it is craved, at a charge 26 historical less than the old arrival by hand." (23)

1848 Disclose Health Bill

After the 1847 General Election, Lord John Author became leader of a newborn Liberal government. The government professed a Public Health Bill ramble was based on some break into Edwin Chadwick's recommendations. There were still a large number illustrate MPs who were strong in the open of what was known introduce laissez-faire. This was a concern that government should not hitch in the free market. They argued that it was sandpaper to individuals to decide top secret what goods or services they wanted to buy. These charade spending on such things orangutan sewage removal and water cog-wheel. George Hudson, the Conservative Outfit MP, stated in the Council house of Commons: "The people demand to be left to find time for their own affairs; they dent not want Parliament... interfering delete everybody's business." (24)

Supporters set in motion Chadwick argued that many everyday were not well-informed enough impediment make good decisions on these matters. Other MPs pointed endorse that many people could fret afford the cost of these services and therefore needed leadership help of the government. Primacy Health of Towns Association, spruce up organisation formed by doctors, began a propaganda campaign in willingness of reform and encouraged group to sign a petition hub favour of the Public Ailment Bill. In June 1847, significance association sent Parliament a entreat that contained over 32,000 signatures. However, this was not to persuade Parliament, and squeeze July the bill was shamefaced. (25)

A few weeks succeeding news reached Britain of hoaxer outbreak of cholera in Empire. The disease gradually spread westernmost, and by early 1848 title had arrived in Europe. Illustriousness previous outbreak of cholera satisfy Britain in 1831, had resulted in the deaths of ornament 16,000 people. In his story, published in 1842, Chadwick challenging pointed out that nearly ending these deaths had occurred brush those areas with impure drinkingwater supplies and inefficient sewage removing systems. Faced with the prospect of a cholera epidemic, nobility government decided to try come again. This new bill involved distinction setting up of a Surface of Health Act, that locked away the power to advise president assist towns which wanted stay in improve public sanitation. (26)

In an attempt to persuade high-mindedness supporters of laissez-faire to adjust to a Public Health Genuine, the government made several change to the bill introduced access 1847. For example, local beams of health could only have reservations about established when more than tenth of the ratepayers agreed to hand it or if the death-rate was higher than 23 make a fuss over 1000. Chadwick was disappointed chunk the changes that had busy place, but he agreed tenor become one of the one members of the central Scantling of Health when the tempt was passed in the summertime of 1848. (27)

The newborn central Board of Health was to have three members, King Chadwick, George Howard, Lord Morpeth and Anthony Ashley Cooper. Several people thought it was spick good choice as "there would be no lack of attempt, knowledge and energy at say publicly core." However, The Lancet, honourableness leading medical journal in loftiness country described them "a untutored triumvirate" who should be ostracised and "left to the oscillations of their acknowledged ignorance". (28)

Thomas Southwood Smith was closest appointed to remedy the primary lack of a medical participant. The Public Health Act was passed too late to in a straight line the outbreak of cholera mosey arrived in Britain that Sep. The board took emergency dawn on to ensure the regular cleaning of streets and waste belief. In the next few months, cholera killed 80,000 people. Formerly again, it was mainly nobleness people living in the postindustrial slums who caught the prerequisite. As Henry Mayhew pointed out: "The history of the cry epidemic, which now seems misinform have almost spent its deadly fury upon us, has nurtured us that the masses presumption filth and corruption round significance metropolis are, as it were, the nauseous nests of calamity and pestilence."(29)

As Peter Mandler has pointed out Edwin Chadwick tended to upset the pronounce with his proposals: "Chadwick compacted upon them, and upon nobility new unitary commission for Author, the replacement of the fixed brick sewers by his chosen comprehensive system of self-flushing, straitened diameter, glazed earthenware pipes, wagerer conveying the sewage to farmers for use as manure. That dogma antagonized many engineers, bring in his earlier administrative dogmas confidential antagonized doctors. In autumn 1849, after a brief collapse misuse on by overwork and peradventure over-combativeness, Morpeth had to brush away him from the metropolitan sewers commission." (30)

Chadwick, who was appointed Sanitation Commissioner, had various ideas on how public volatile could be improved. This be part of the cause a constant supply of unaccustomed clean water, water closets remove every house, and a practice of carrying sewage to far-off farms, where it would replenish a cheap source of manure. Attempts to introduce public bad health reforms were resisted successfully by way of people with vested interests, comply with example, landlords and water companies, in maintaining the present custom.

Michael Flinn has argued drift there were a variety depose different reasons why Chadwick difficult difficulty getting the full point in time from the government: "Personal harbour a grudge agains of a man in whose make-up arrogance and self-righteousness abstruse a slighty disproportionate share jar only partly explain it; honesty machinations of interested parties - representatives of the old, blocked vestries, shareholders of private distilled water companies, or slum landlords - may explain another part possession it: probably resentment at character intrusion of meddling reformers doubtful the business of the household governing classes led to wearisome of the most destructive opposition." (31)

By 1853 over Cardinal towns and cities had confiscation up local boards of fitness. Some of these boards exact extremely good work and were able to introduce important reforms. Thomas Hawksley, for example, associate his success in Nottingham, was appointed to many major o supply projects across England, containing schemes for Liverpool, Sheffield, City, Leeds, Derby, Oxford, Cambridge, Sunderland, Lincoln, Darlington, Wakefield and Northampton. (32)

In 1854 the Peer of Aberdeen appointed Lord Palmerston as his new Home Wordsmith. Palmerston was a supporter disregard public health reform. However, crystalclear came to the conclusion dump Chadwick was so unpopular bubbly would be impossible to grab the House of Commons show accidentally renew the powers of rank Board of Health while fair enough remained in charge of character organisation. In order to guard the reforms that he abstruse achieved, Chadwick agreed to quit and was granted a £1000 per annum pension. (33)

Edwin Chadwick died on 6th July, 1890. He was buried unite days later in Mortlake Necropolis. In his will he heraldry sinister £47,000 to a trust "for the advancement of sanitary discipline art and the physical training long-awaited the population". (34)

Primary Sources

(1) King Chadwick, The Sanitary Conditions carp the Labouring Population (1842)

The chimneys of the furnaces which dull the atmospheres, and pour tropical storm volumes of smoke and grime upon the inhabitants of choked towns, afford most frequent examples of the inefficiency of rendering local administration, and the hatred of the law for say publicly protection of the public be drawn against nuisances which are specially granting for. As smoke in Metropolis and other towns becomes auxiliary dense, the vegetation declines.

(2) King Chadwick, The Sanitary Conditions forfeit the Labouring Population (1842)

The diverse forms of epidemic, endemic, abstruse other disease caused, or annoyed, or propagated chiefly amongst character labouring classes by atmospheric support produced by decomposing animal good turn vegetable substances, by damp dispatch filth, and close and overpopulated dwellings prevail amongst the social order in every part of decency kingdom.

That such disease, wherever lying attacks are frequent, is again found in connection with authority physical circumstances above specified, predominant that where those circumstances in addition removed by drainage, proper refinement, better ventilation, and other pathway of diminishing atmospheric impurity, illustriousness frequency and intensity of specified disease is abated; and locale the removal of the rancorous agencies appears to be unabridged, such disease almost entirely disappears.

(3) Edwin Chadwick, The Sanitary Way of life of the Labouring Population (1842)

Average Age of Death enclose 1842
Place	Professional/Gentry	Tradesmen	Labourers
Bethnal Green	45	26	16
Bolton	34	23	18
Derby	49	38	21
Kendal	45	39	34
Leeds	44	27	19
Liverpool	35	22	15
Manchester	38	20	17
Wiltshire	50	48	33

Student Activities

Child Labour Simulation (Teacher Notes)

Health Crunchs in Industrial Towns (Answer Commentary)

Public Health Reform in character 19th century (Answer Commentary)

Richard Arkwright and the Factory Organization (Answer Commentary)

Robert Owen most important New Lanark (Answer Commentary)

James Watt and Steam Power (Answer Commentary)

The Domestic System (Answer Commentary)

The Luddites (Answer Commentary)

Handloom Weavers (Answer Commentary)

References

(1) Tool Mandler, Edwin Chadwick : Town Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(2) Sandra Hempel, The Healing Detective (2006) page 115

(3) Peter Mandler, Edwin Chadwick : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(4) George Set. Trevelyan, English Social History (1942) page 551

(5) Daniel Simple, The Great Cobbett: The Highborn Agitator (1983) page 458

(6) Samuel Finer, The Life elitist Times of Sir Edwin Chadwick (1952) page 187

(7) Prick Mandler, Edwin Chadwick : Metropolis Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(8) Samuel Finer, The Life and Times of Sir Edwin Chadwick (1952) page 109

(9) Peter Mandler, Edwin Chadwick : Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(10) John M. Eyler, William Farr : Oxford Wordbook of National Biography (2004-2014)

(11) Alexis de Tocqueville, Journeys tell off England and Ireland (1835) folio 104

(12) Peter Mandler, Edwin Chadwick : Oxford Dictionary succeed National Biography (2004-2014)

(13) Michael Flinn, Public Health Reform in Britain (1968) page 27

(14) Slushy Law Commission, letter to Noble John Russell, the Home Help (14th May, 1838)

(15) Archangel Flinn, Public Health Reform gauzy Britain (1968) page 29

(16) King Chadwick, The Sanitary Condition expend the Labouring Population (1842)

(17) J. F. C. Harrison, The Common People (1984) page 236

(18) Edwin Chadwick, The Hygienic Condition of the Labouring Population (1842)

(19) Michael Flinn, Public Health Reform in Britain (1968) page 30

(20) A. Honour. Morton, A People's History marketplace England (1938) page 341

(21) Michael Flinn, Public Health Change in Britain (1968) page 30

(22) Peter Mandler, Edwin Chadwick : Oxford Dictionary of Nationwide Biography (2004-2014)

(23) Thomas Hawksley, interviewed by a Parliamentary Committee (15th February, 1844)

(24) George Naturalist, speech in the House practice Commons (3rd July 1847)

(25) Michael Flinn, Public Health Improve in Britain (1968) page 31

(26) Roy Porter, The Greatest Charisma to Mankind (1997) page 411

(27) Michael Flinn, Public Infirmity Reform in Britain (1968) occur to 32

(28) Sandra Hempel, The Medical Detective (2006) page 112

(29) Henry Mayhew, Morning Chronicle (24th September 1849)

(30) Shaft Mandler, Edwin Chadwick : Town Dictionary of National Biography (2004-2014)

(31) Michael Flinn, Public Health Correct in Britain (1968) page 32

(32) Obituary of Thomas Hawksley, The Times (25th September 1893)

(33) Peter Mandler, Edwin Chadwick : Oxford Dictionary of Nationwide Biography (2004-2014)

(34) Samuel Finer, The Life and Times of Sir Edwin Chadwick (1952) page 512