Robert Hartwell facts for kids

Robert John Hartwell (1810 – 1875) was a British leader who worked to improve conditions for working people. He was involved in early trade unions and edited newspapers that supported workers' rights.

Early Life and Activism

Robert Hartwell started his career as a compositor. This means he was a skilled worker who set up the metal type for printing newspapers and books. In his free time, he also wrote articles for newspapers.

Fighting for Fair Newspapers

In the early 1830s, Hartwell joined a movement called the "War of the Unstamped." At that time, the British government put high taxes on newspapers. This made newspapers very expensive, so most ordinary people couldn't afford them.

People like Hartwell believed these "taxes on knowledge" were unfair. They wanted everyone to have access to information. So, they printed newspapers without paying the tax, even though it was against the law.

Supporting Workers' Rights

Hartwell was a strong supporter of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. These were a group of farm workers who were punished for forming a trade union. Hartwell helped raise money to support them and their families.

In 1836, he joined the London Working Men's Association. This group worked to get more rights for working people.

The People's Charter

A very important moment for Hartwell was in 1837. He led a meeting where the idea for the People's Charter was first suggested. The Charter was a list of six main demands for political reform in Britain. It asked for things like:

• The right for all men to vote.
• Secret ballots (so people could vote without fear).
• Fairer elections.

In 1839, Hartwell became the editor of a newspaper called The Charter. This newspaper supported the Chartist movement and its goals. After a while, he stepped back from political activities for some time.

Later Career and The Bee-Hive

In 1861, Robert Hartwell teamed up with another important trade unionist, George Potter. Together, they started a newspaper called The Bee-Hive.

This newspaper was very important because it supported trade unions. Trade unions are groups formed by workers to protect their rights and improve their working conditions. Hartwell was a main writer for The Bee-Hive, and he became its editor in 1863.

He also led the first meeting of the Reform League in 1865. This group also worked for political changes, especially to give more people the right to vote.

Political Candidacy

Robert Hartwell once announced that he wanted to become a Member of Parliament for Lambeth. He planned to run as an independent candidate, meaning he wasn't part of a major political party. He wanted to represent the working people. However, he decided not to run in the election before it took place.