JOSEPH COWEN and EUROPEAN REVOLUTION | Lecture

Friday 10th October | 1pm

JOSEPH COWEN and EUROPEAN REVOLUTION

Members' priority until 13th September

A lecture with Keith Jewitt

Joseph Cowen MP (1829-1900) wanted a democratic political system in which everyone (including women) could vote. He helped set up cash-only affordable co-operative stores, and adult education centres run by working people. He called for universal primary education, free from Church interference. He campaigned for the abolition of slavery, supporting the Union in the American Civil War. He warned the government to be on guard against Russian tyranny and expansionism. He was a lifelong abstainer from alcohol.

This set of beliefs placed him not merely on the Parliamentary “loony left” but way beyond it, with the Fenians and bomb-throwing anarchists. In spite of his extremism, Cowen was in general prepared to use the existing political system to realise his vision for Britain. He was a brilliant hands-on politician-activist, with an appeal which didn’t fade when he stepped down from the soap-box, popular with all classes of people, generous, cordial, hospitable, wealthy.

In overseas matters, Cowen was prepared to use other tactics, believing that force was sometimes necessary to overthrow repressive regimes. This made him (to quote his New York Times obituary) “the friend of every conspirator from Moscow to Madrid”. Many of these overseas revolutionaries, including Garibaldi, Kossuth and Herzen, came here to the North East to visit him. They gave lectures, befriended Cowen’s family, benefited from his extensive network, and received generous moral and financial support.

Keith Jewitt believes that Cowen is less well known in the North East than he should be. In his own time he was nationally and internationally known, a man to be reckoned with. Using existing published accounts, and material from the Cowen archives held in Newcastle University Special Collections and Tyne & Wear Archives, he aims to re-evoke the dangerous charm of a unique Tyneside radical.

Members' priority until 13th September

A LIVE Lit & Phil Event | FREE

(If you would prefer to book directly over the phone, please call the Library Desk team on 0191 232 0192 and they will be happy to help)

Image | Signature of Joseph Cowen Jr. | source copyright free

Image| Venturi, Emilie A.; Joseph Cowen; Newcastle University; | Image provided by promoter | http://www.artuk.org/artworks/joseph-cowen-57357