Alfred Walton facts for kids

Alfred Armstrong Walton (1816–7 May 1883) was a British politician from the 1800s. He was known as a "Radical," which meant he wanted big changes to how the country was run. He came from a working-class background and wrote many articles about politics and social issues. He was especially interested in how land was owned and how Parliament (the government) could be made fairer.

Early Life and Ideas

Alfred Walton started his career as a stonemason and builder. He joined a group called the Operative Masons' Society, which was a union for workers. He also became a supporter of Robert Owen, who had ideas about creating fairer communities.

Working for Change

In the late 1840s, Walton was very active in the Chartist movement. The Chartists were a group of working-class people who wanted more rights, like the right for all men to vote. He also joined the National Association of United Trades. Around this time, he started suggesting a plan for "home colonisation." This idea was about helping people get land and homes in their own country.

Focus on Land Ownership

Walton wrote an important book in 1865 called "History of the Landed Tenures of Great Britain and Ireland." This book looked at how land had been owned in Britain and Ireland since the Norman Conquest. He became a strong voice for "land nationalisation," which meant he believed the government should own all land, not just a few rich people. Even famous thinkers like Karl Marx quoted his book.

A Voice from Wales

In the 1860s, Alfred Walton moved to Brecon in South Wales. From there, he continued to push for reforms. His strong ideas led him to join several important groups that wanted more democracy.

Joining Important Groups

He became part of the International Working Men's Association (also known as the First International), which was a group of workers from different countries. He also joined the Reform League, which worked to expand voting rights. Walton was also involved in several cooperative building projects, where people worked together to build homes.

Trying to Join Parliament

Alfred Walton tried several times to become a Member of Parliament (MP). First, he ran for election in Brecon, and later in Stoke-on-Trent. However, because of local political situations, he was not successful in any of his attempts to be elected.

Later Years

In the 1870s, Alfred Walton moved to London. He spent his final years there. He was less involved in big political campaigns, but he still wrote many pamphlets and articles for newspapers, sharing his ideas.