Legalised Trade Unions, Compulsory Primary Schooling, Enhanced Higher Education – the Legacies of Anthony John Mundella, 1825-1897 John Michael Davey B.Sc. (London), M.A. (Adelaide) A thesis submitted for the degree of Ph.D. Faculty of Arts University of Adelaide February 2020 Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... ii Abstract ................................................................................................................... iv Thesis Declaration .................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. vi Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 3 Literature Overview ...................................................................................................... 5 Primary Sources ............................................................................................................ 9 Structure of the Thesis ................................................................................................ 11 Chapter 1: Politics and Social Issues in Mundella’s Time .......................................... 13 Position at Mid-Century .............................................................................................. 15 The Second Reform Act ............................................................................................... 18 A Period of Social Reform ........................................................................................... 20 Mundella and laissez-faire .......................................................................................... 25 Developments through to the end of the century ...................................................... 26 Conclusions - Mundella's position on laissez-faire and state intervention ............... 27 Chapter 2: The Man – His Background and Career ................................................... 28 Historiography ............................................................................................................. 29 Early Years in Leicester ................................................................................................ 33 Mundella’s Early Working Life .................................................................................... 36 The Successful Nottingham Hosier ............................................................................. 38 Conciliation and Arbitration ........................................................................................ 43 Mundella and the Improvement of Education ........................................................... 44 Involvement in Municipal Affairs ................................................................................ 45 Mundella and the Politics of Sheffield ........................................................................ 49 The Sheffield Election of 1868 .................................................................................... 50 Mundella’s National Recognition ................................................................................ 52 Conclusions - Mundella’s Character ............................................................................ 52 Chapter 3 – The Battle to Improve Factory Working Conditions ............................... 55 Historical Background ................................................................................................. 55 Historiography ............................................................................................................. 59 Mundella’s Factory Initiatives ..................................................................................... 62 Mundella’s Political Involvement in Factory Legislation ............................................. 64 Supporters and Opponents ......................................................................................... 71 Other Workplace Matters ........................................................................................... 75 Conclusions - Mundella’s Place in the Factory Acts Movement ................................. 77 ‘Sound Lungs and Impressive Gestures’ ..................................................................... 79 Chapter 4 – Legitimising the Trade Union Movement .............................................. 80 Historical Background ................................................................................................. 81 Historiography ............................................................................................................. 82 Mundella’s Early Involvement with the Union Movement......................................... 86 ii Arbitration and Conciliation ........................................................................................ 89 The Royal Commission on Trade Unions..................................................................... 91 Mundella and Other ‘Friends’ of the Unions .............................................................. 94 In Parliament ............................................................................................................... 97 Repeal of the Criminal Law Amendment Act .............................................................. 99 Conclusions - Mundella’s Battle for Union Rights ..................................................... 100 Chapter 5 – Educating the Nation .......................................................................... 103 Historical Background ............................................................................................... 104 Historiography ........................................................................................................... 107 Before Parliament ..................................................................................................... 107 Mundella and the 1870 Education Act...................................................................... 117 The Ongoing Fight ..................................................................................................... 126 Taking Responsibility for Education .......................................................................... 135 The National Education Association ......................................................................... 148 Conclusions - Education was Mundella's passion ..................................................... 150 Chapter 6: Improving Technical and Higher Education ........................................... 152 Historiography ........................................................................................................... 155 Efforts before 1868 and Parliament .......................................................................... 161 In Parliament ............................................................................................................. 164 In Opposition ............................................................................................................. 168 The Success, or Otherwise, of Increased Technical Education ................................. 174 Conclusions - Mundella's Battle for Technical Education ......................................... 177 Chapter 7 - National Commercial Issues ................................................................ 178 Historical Background ............................................................................................... 178 Historiography ........................................................................................................... 182 Mundella and Labour Legislation .............................................................................. 190 Mundella and the Railways ....................................................................................... 195 Mundella and Maritime Reforms .............................................................................. 200 Conclusions - Mundella’s Board of Trade Experiences ............................................. 202 Final Portrait .............................................................................................................. 204 Chapter 8 – The Forgotten Mundella ..................................................................... 205 Contemporary References and Opinions .................................................................. 205 The Fictional Mundella .............................................................................................. 211 Mundella’s Resignation from the Ministry ............................................................... 212 Reputations That Have Lasted .................................................................................. 218 Remembering Mundella, or not ................................................................................ 220 Conclusions - The ‘Forgotten’ Man ........................................................................... 223 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 225 Thesis Summary ........................................................................................................ 225 The Questions Posed and Answered .......................................................................