Collet Dobson Collet facts for kids
Collet Dobson Collet (born December 31, 1812 – died December 28, 1898) was an English champion for fairness. He was a radical thinker, a Chartist (someone who wanted more rights for ordinary people), and he fought hard against unfair taxes on newspapers.
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Contents
Early Life and Important Work
Collet Dobson Collet was born in London on December 31, 1812. His father, John Dobson, was a merchant. Collet had a sister, Sophia Dobson Collet, who was a writer and a feminist. His brother, Edward Dobson, became an engineer.
Collet first thought about a career in law. However, he didn't have enough money to continue his studies. So, he changed his path. He became the director of music at a place called South Place Chapel.
Fighting for People's Rights
Collet became very involved in the Chartist movement. This was a big movement in Britain. Chartists wanted more rights for working-class people. They believed everyone should have a say in how the country was run.
Collet became the Secretary of the People's Charter Union. This group worked to achieve the goals of the Chartists.
Ending Newspaper Taxes
One of Collet's most famous fights was against the "taxes on knowledge." These were special taxes on newspapers and other printed materials. The government used these taxes to make newspapers expensive. This made it harder for ordinary people to read news and learn new ideas.
In 1849, Collet became Secretary of the Newspaper Stamp Abolition Committee. This group wanted to get rid of the unfair taxes. From 1851 to 1870, he was the Secretary of the Association for the Repeal of the Taxes on Knowledge. He worked tirelessly to make information more accessible to everyone.
Editor and Friend of Karl Marx
In 1866, Collet became the editor of a newspaper called The Diplomatic Review. Before he took over, it was known as The Free Press. Collet invited other radical thinkers to write for the paper.
Collet and Karl Marx
Because of Collet's open invitation, Karl Marx started writing articles for The Diplomatic Review. Marx was a very important thinker and writer. Collet and Marx became great friends.
They started having weekly meetings at each other's homes. At these meetings, their families would read plays by William Shakespeare. These gatherings became so popular they formed a club called the Dogberry Club.
Marx's daughter, Eleanor Marx, and Collet's daughter, Clara Collet, were very involved in these readings. This shows how their friendship extended to their families.
Family and Legacy
Collet had five children. His son, Wilfred Collet, became a colonial administrator. His daughter, Clara Collet, became an important educationalist. She worked to improve education for many people.
Collet Dobson Collet passed away in 1898 in Finsbury, London. He is buried in Highgate West Cemetery. His wife, Jane Collet, died ten years after him. Collet is remembered for his dedication to fairness, free speech, and making knowledge available to everyone.
