Thomas Attwood and the Birmingham Political Union

Thomas Attwood (1783-1856) was the son of a successful Birmingham businessman, who cut his teeth arguing against East India Company monopolies and went on to become a powerful advocate for monetary reform. His lack of success led to his advocacy of political reform and he played an important role in the the creation and then leadership of the Birmingham Political Union, which held its first meeting in April 1829, and was formally established in January 1830, at a meeting of some 10,000 people chaired by the old radical MP Sir Francis Burdett. The organisation campaigned for shorter Parliaments, payment for MPs and the removal of the property qualification, and the extension of the vote to all those paying direct or indirect taxes. The Union became a model for many others throughout the country. as momentum gathered for the 1832 Reform Act - following which Attwood and his deputy at the BPU, Joshua Scholefield, were returned to Parliament.
Attwood revived the Union in 1837 in an attempt to achieve further Parliamentary reform, and the organisation began working closely with the London Working Men's Association, which were similarly moderate in their views. Despite concern at more radical elements in the movement Attwood presented the first Chartist petition to Parliament in 1839.