Thomas Slingsby Duncombe facts for kids

Engraving of Duncombe, around 1858

Thomas Slingsby Duncombe (1796 – 1861) was a Radical politician in England. He was a member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. He represented Hertford from 1826 to 1832. Later, he represented Finsbury from 1834 until he died.

Duncombe was a strong supporter of new ideas and changes. He worked hard for these causes for 27 years in Finsbury, a part of London. People also knew him for his fancy style. Many said he was "the handsomest and best-dressed man" in Parliament. The people he represented, called his constituents, loved him. They were shopkeepers, skilled workers, and laborers. They also included Nonconformists (Protestants who weren't part of the Church of England), Catholics, and Jews. They elected him seven times. This made him the longest-serving representative for a London area at that time. His supporters called him "Honest Tom Duncombe." Others called him the "Dandy Demagogue" or "Radical Dandy." He was a well-known person, often talked about in newspapers.

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Thomas Duncombe was born in 1796 in Middlesex, England. His family was wealthy and well-connected. His parents, Thomas and Emma Duncombe, owned land in West Riding of Yorkshire. His grandfather was a Bishop of Peterborough. His uncle was the first Baron Feversham.

He went to Harrow school from 1808 to 1811. After school, he joined the Coldstream Guards, an important army group. He worked as an assistant to General Sir Ronald Craufurd Ferguson. General Ferguson believed in political changes, like secret voting. This likely influenced Duncombe's own ideas about making society fairer. Duncombe left the army in 1819 as a Lieutenant.

First Steps in Parliament

In 1820, Duncombe tried to become a Member of Parliament for Pontefract. He ran as a Whig, a political group that wanted some changes. He did not win that election. In 1823, he tried again for Hertford and lost once more.

Finally, in June 1826, Duncombe won a seat in Parliament for Hertford. He became known for his strong speeches against the government. He was re-elected in 1830 and 1831. He spent a lot of money on these elections, about £40,000. He later used this fact to argue for political reforms. In 1832, he lost his seat to a rival. Duncombe then argued that the election was unfair because of bribery. The election was declared invalid.

During this time, Duncombe supported political reform. He also became known in society as a stylish person. He enjoyed the theatre and was a good horse rider. He was friends with Count D'Orsay, a famous artist. Count D'Orsay even drew a picture of him. Duncombe was also friends with important writers. For example, Benjamin Disraeli, who later became Prime Minister, asked Duncombe about the Chartism movement for his novel Sybil: or The Two Nations.

Championing Radical Causes

The Reform Act of 1832 created new areas in London that needed representatives. In 1834, Duncombe won a seat for the new area of Finsbury. He spent very little money on this election. In his speech, he explained his strong beliefs. He promised to fight for religious freedom. He also wanted to end unfair taxes and modernize the economy. He supported secret voting, giving more people the right to vote, and shorter parliamentary terms. These ideas became the main points of the People's Charter four years later. In fact, Duncombe presented the second petition for the People's Charter to Parliament in 1842. Over 3.3 million people signed it! It was so big it had to be unrolled to fit through the doors of the House of Commons.

Fighting for Change in Parliament

As a Member of Parliament for Finsbury, Duncombe spoke out more and more. He worked to free John Frost and other Chartists, who were activists for workers' rights. He spoke against the new Poor Law, which made life very hard for poor people. He also showed the terrible conditions in prison hulks (old ships used as prisons) and how people with mental illness were treated.

Duncombe also revealed that the Home Office (a government department) was secretly opening the mail of political activists. This included an Italian activist named Mazzini, and even Duncombe's own mail. He also led a committee that looked into the power of the Lord Chamberlain's office. This office could censor and stop plays from being performed. Duncombe helped to show how ridiculous this power was. He also supported religious groups who were not part of the main church. This included Catholics and Jews. He especially helped Baron Rothschild to take his seat in Parliament. Duncombe spent his last years helping to edit a book called The Jews of England: Their History and Wrongs.

Supporting Workers and Public Life

Outside of Parliament, Duncombe worked to help working men and women. He led a national meeting of trade groups in 1845. He also helped create the National Association of United Trades for the Protection of Labour (NAUT). He was the president of this group for seven years. Duncombe often spoke at trade union events and supported workers' strikes.

Even though he was a serious politician, Duncombe also enjoyed social life. He was known for his love of theatre.

A New Style of Politics

Even his critics agreed that Duncombe was one of the best debaters in the House of Commons. His friendly way of speaking made his opponents less aggressive. His strong speaking style and fancy clothes were even made fun of by Charles Dickens in his book Nicholas Nickleby.

Duncombe showed a new way of doing politics. He performed not just for other politicians, but for "the people out of doors," which meant the public. Despite his fancy style, or maybe because of it, he was very popular with the public. People loved his colorful way of acting. His open enjoyment of life and his stylish clothes seemed to help his popularity, rather than hurt it.

Later Years and Legacy

Duncombe suffered from a bronchial condition that eventually led to his death. Between 1847 and 1850, he was often too sick to attend Parliament regularly. But when he could, he did. Even when he was thin and weak, this privileged man continued to stand up for the rights of those who were less fortunate. He also led long and difficult meetings for trade unionists.

In 1856, while already ill, he supported the case of István Türr. Türr was a revolutionary from Hungary who was arrested and in danger of being executed. Duncombe helped push the British government to step in and get him freed.

Thomas Duncombe died at the age of 65 in Sussex. A week later, he was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

Books by Duncombe

• Duncombe, Thomas Slingsby and James Acland, The Jews of England: Their History and Wrongs (London: J. Wade, 1866)