William Belsham facts for kids
William Belsham (1752–1827) was an English writer and historian. He was known for supporting the Whig Party, a political group in Britain. Belsham believed in more freedom for people and supported the American Revolution, which was when the American colonies fought for their independence from England.
About William Belsham
William Belsham was born in Bedford, England, in 1752. His father, James Belsham, was a minister. William was also the brother of Thomas Belsham. He passed away near Hammersmith on November 17, 1827.
Belsham's Writings
William Belsham wrote many books about history and politics. He was known for his strong beliefs in political freedom and was part of a group of historians who were against war.
Early Books and Ideas
Belsham started his writing career with a book called Essays, Philosophical, Historical, and Literary. This book was published in two parts between 1789 and 1791. In his writings, he used the word "libertarian" to talk about the idea of free will. This means people can make their own choices, rather than everything being decided for them.
In 1792, he wrote Examination of an Appeal from the Old to the New Whigs. The next year, 1793, he published Remarks on the Nature and Necessity of Political Reform. This book discussed how important it was to make changes in politics. He also wrote about other important topics like the Test Act, the French Revolution, and the Treaty of Amiens.
Major Historical Works
Belsham wrote several large history books. In 1793, he published Memoirs of the Kings of Great Britain of the House of Brunswick-Luneburg.
He then wrote a longer series called Memoirs of the Reign of George III. This covered the time when King George III was in charge. The first four volumes came out in 1795, and two more were added in 1801.
In 1798, he published A History of Great Britain from the Revolution to the Accession of the House of Hanover. Later, in 1806, all his history books were re-released together. They were titled History of Great Britain to the Conclusion of the Peace of Amiens in 1802, and included twelve volumes.
Another important work was an eight-volume set published in 1813. It was called Memoirs of the Reign of George III from his Accession, to the Peace of Amiens.
