Richard Cobden (1804-1865) was born in Dunford, Sussex, England. He was a middle-class manufacturer and MP. He became interested in the Manchester Anti-Corn Law Association in 1838 and helped to transform it into the National Anti-Corn-Law League. Cobden was elected to Parliament in 1841, 1847 and 1859. The collection consists of 225 items, mostly correspondence from Cobden to others concerning his activities as a leader of the Anti-Corn-Law League, 1838-46.

Cobden was born in Dunford, Sussex, England on June 3, 1804; became a middle-class manufacturer and Member of Parliament, advocating free trade, non-intervention in foreign affairs, an end to aristocratic misrule, and a variety of radical political reforms; became interested in the Manchester Anti-Corn Law Association in 1838 and helped to transform it into the National Anti-Corn-Law League; the League agitated for the repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws, which was achieved in 1846 due to the famine in Ireland; elected to Parliament in 1841 and again in 1847, working for international arbitration, financial reform and arms reduction; opposed the conduct of the Crimean War; although defeated in 1857, he returned to Parliament in 1859; he negotiated reciprocal tariff reductions with France, 1860; died in London on April 2, 1865.

2 boxes (1 linear ft.)

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