Catholic Emancipation Political Debate
The Catholic Relief Act changed religious and electoral politics during the later years of the Political Register.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
William Cobbett Biography and Timeline — Page 2
Follow William Cobbett through 51 dated historical records for Great Britain.
William Cobbett, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
51Distinct records
2 of 2Page
1829–1835Years on this page
1829
1830
Rural Rides
Publication of "Rural Rides". Publication of a collection of essays
Swing Riots and Rural Protest
The Swing disturbances underscored agricultural distress and demands for change among the rural population championed by Cobbett.
Rural Rides First Collection Published
Cobbett's Rural Rides first appeared in a collected volume, preserving countryside reports that had previously appeared in the Political Register.
Demands for Electoral Reform Renewed
The political turbulence surrounding the 1830 election renewed Cobbett's attacks on unreformed constituencies and elite influence.
1831
Libel Trial Ends in Acquittal
Cobbett was acquitted in a seditious libel case arising from his writings about rural unrest and political reform.
1832
Great Reform Act and Election
The Reform Act altered parliamentary representation, and Cobbett subsequently won election as a member of Parliament.
Oldham Elects Cobbett to Parliament
Cobbett entered the House of Commons as one of the members for Oldham after the Reform Act widened representation.
1833
Parliamentary Experience Informs Journalism
Cobbett combined his membership of the House of Commons with continuing criticism of government and the political establishment.
1834
New Poor Law Condemned
Cobbett opposed the Poor Law reforms that expanded the workhouse system, viewing them as harsh measures against the poor.
1835
Death of Political Register Founder
Cobbett died after more than three decades of publishing the Political Register, ending his personal editorial leadership.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.