The Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, 1801-1885

Anthony Ashley Cooper, born in 1801 and, from 1851, the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, occupied a remarkable position in nineteenth-century England. In this scholarly interpretation based on an exhaustive exploration of the manuscript archives, Geoffrey Finlayson sets him securely in his historical context, at the same time bringing into relief both his private and public lives. The author reveals, with masterly control, this highly complex "Eminent Victorian" as a most powerful challenger of the evils of the contemporary world with a commitment and energy that inspired respect, loyalty and great affection. The book fully explains Shaftesbury's deep moral and political outlook, as well as his social thought, and coherently links his concern with government legislation to his own charitable enterprise. Shaftesbury's pioneering work in the areas of factory, public health and housing reform is persuasively illuminated, as are his relationships with other leading figures of the time, including Cobden, Peel, Palmerston, Gladstone and Disraeli.