William Cobbett

An 1820s caricature of Paine being attacked by tiny devils and rat-like creatures, Cobbett carrying a coffin containing Paine’s bones and being attacked by rats and Isaac Hunt holding a reform flag. – Thomas Paine Society UK Bulletin (2010)

The Adventures of Thomas Paine’s Bones

Resources Essays

If we pass from personal relics to relics of personality, those of Paine are innumerable; and among these the most important are the legends and fictions told concerning him by enemies, unconscious that their romances were really tributes to his unique influence.

, , , ,

The Adventures of Thomas Paine’s Bones Read Post »

E. P. Thompson addresses anti-nuclear weapons rally, Oxford, England, 1980

Thomas Paine, the Rights of Man and the Rights of the Freeborn Englishman 

Thomas Paine Society UK, TPUK 2013 Number 1 Volume 12

Thompson’s interpretation underlined Paine’s importance in what was labelled by historians as the ‘Atlantic-Democratic Revolution’. In the 1960s, my undergraduate days, this exercise in comparative history breaking through the constraints of nation state historiography was as fashionable as Thompson’s history from below.

, , , , ,

Thomas Paine, the Rights of Man and the Rights of the Freeborn Englishman  Read Post »

William Cobbett, portrait in oils possibly by George Cooke from 1831 - National Portrait Gallery (London)

BOOK REVIEW: Two Cocks On The Dunghill, William Cobbett and Henry Hunt: Their Friendship, feuds and fights

Thomas Paine Society UK, TPUK 2010 Number 2 Volume 10

By Terry Liddle Two Cocks On The Dunghill, William Cobbett and Henry Hunt: Their Friendship, feuds and fights. Penny Young. Twopenny Press, South Lopham, Norfolk, 2009. 384pp Paperback, ISBN 978-0-9561703-0-9. £17.95  There have been numerous biographies of William Cobbett, but only one of Henry Hunt although Hunt was no less an important and prominent figure

,

BOOK REVIEW: Two Cocks On The Dunghill, William Cobbett and Henry Hunt: Their Friendship, feuds and fights Read Post »

Freedom art

Radical Peckham: The Story Of Timothy Brown

Thomas Paine Society UK, TPUK 2010 Number 2 Volume 10

Even today there will be many readers who find radical views unacceptable. But I ask them to reflect that these advocates of change began the struggle for human rights, the freedom of speech, for the Enlightenment, for the inclusive franchise, for universal education and for our parliamentary democracy.

Radical Peckham: The Story Of Timothy Brown Read Post »

“Cobbett at Coventry” a 1820 engraving by an unknown artist shows William Cobbett with Paine’s bones in a coffin on his back in the top left corner – American Philosophical Society

William Cobbett And Henry Hunt – The Extraordinary Story Of Their Thirty Year Radical Relationship 

Thomas Paine Society UK, TPUK 2010 Number 2 Volume 10

This is an account of the relationship between two men at a crucial time in history. It is set against the backdrop of the aftermath of the French revolution, the wars with France and the fear of a Jacobin-style revolution in England and the demands for reform.

, ,

William Cobbett And Henry Hunt – The Extraordinary Story Of Their Thirty Year Radical Relationship  Read Post »

“Will Cobbett, with Thomas Paine’s bones” is an etching by James Sayers showing William Cobbett charicatured carrying the coffin of Thomas Paine on his back on his back. Image comes from the a collection of pamphlets, “1736–1829 Sammelbands including subjects on Famous Dwarfs, Pro-Tory, Anti-Jacobin, Anti-Thomas Paine Sentiment, etc.” – link

An Extended History of the Remains of Thomas Paine 

Thomas Paine Society UK, TPUK 2007 Number 4 Volume 8

The following saga combines the most comprehensive account yet of the fate of Thomas Paine’s remains, the intriguing story of the recent discovery of a vestige of those, and the recounting of a bizarre, scientific endeavour to validate that piece. It is a tale of fact, probability and possibility.

, ,

An Extended History of the Remains of Thomas Paine  Read Post »

William Cobbett, portrait in oils possibly by George Cooke from 1831 - National Portrait Gallery (London)

Correspondence: Leo Bressler on ‘Peter Porcupine and the Bones of Thomas Paine’

Thomas Paine Society UK, TPUK 2005 Number 4 Volume 7

A recent article by Leo Bressler entitled ‘Peter Porcupine and the Bones of Thomas Paine’ gives pause to consider the nature of history; particularly the nature of good history. There is always a great deal to ponder and often a good deal of useful information and/or history.

, , ,

Correspondence: Leo Bressler on ‘Peter Porcupine and the Bones of Thomas Paine’ Read Post »

“Will Cobbett, with Thomas Paine’s bones” is an etching by James Sayers showing William Cobbett charicatured carrying the coffin of Thomas Paine on his back on his back. Image comes from the a collection of pamphlets, “1736–1829 Sammelbands including subjects on Famous Dwarfs, Pro-Tory, Anti-Jacobin, Anti-Thomas Paine Sentiment, etc.” – link

Peter Porcupine And The Bones Of Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Society UK, TPUK 2004 Number 3 Volume 7

The fame which these writings brought to Thomas Paine during the Revolution is known to every school boy. Not so well known are the pathos and tragedy of the closing years of his life. A national hero at the end of the war, Paine saw his reputation swept away.

, , ,

Peter Porcupine And The Bones Of Thomas Paine Read Post »

A 1793 tin medal with Thomas Paine hanging from a tree holding a book, church to left. ‘Tommy’s Rights of Man’ is inscribed above the tree with Paine saying ‘I died for this damn’d book’. The reverse side says ‘May the tree of liberty exist to bear Tommy’s last friend’ – © The Trustees of the British Museum

The Resurgence Of Thomas Paine 

Thomas Paine Society UK, TPUK 1971 Number 1 Volume 4

No one illustrates a form of committing political suicide better than Thomas Paine. He did not hesitate a moment to rush in to promote every good cause and to expose every injustice, and he ended up being generally despised, with virtually everyone his enemy for one reason or another. 

, ,

The Resurgence Of Thomas Paine  Read Post »

Scroll to Top