Thomas Attwood
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the English composer and organist, see Thomas Attwood (composer)
Thomas Attwood (born in Halesowen, 6 October 1783, died in Malvern, Worcestershire on 9 March 1859) was a British economist and strong campaigner for electoral reform.
Following years of hardship for his home town of Birmingham, he founded the Birmingham Political Union in 1830 This was a political organization campaigning for cities, and large towns such as Birmingham, to be directly represented in Parliament. The Birmingham Political Union was foremost among groups lobbying the government for the passage of the Reform Bill to achieve this aim. After its success he became the first MP for Birmingham, a position he held until 1839.
His statue stands (or, more correctly, reclines) on the steps of Chamberlain Square in Birmingham.