Thomas Babington Macaulay, eldest child of Zachary Macaulay, was born
in Leicestershire on 25th October, 1800. Zachary Macaulay, who had
worked in Jamaica as a young man and had witnessed at first-hand the
way slaves were treated, became active in the attempts to make the
trade illegal. He became editor of the Christian
Observer and in 1823 joined with others to form the Anti-Slavery
Society.
Thomas was an extremely intelligent child he began writing poems about
historical characters at the age of eight. Thomas Macaulay went to
Trinity College, Cambridge in October
1818. Macaulay became friends with other students who held progressive
political views including Lord Grey and Charles
Austin. Macaulay became very interested in utilitarianism
and was influenced by the ideas of Jeremy
Bentham and Joseph Priestley. One
of Macaulay's campaigns at university was to bring an end to the rule
that forbade a discussion of public affairs at the Student Union later
than those of the last century.
Macaulay became a lawyer after he left university. He continued to
be interested in politics and in 1824 received publicity for an impressive
speech at a meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society.
Macaulay also became a regular contributor to the Edinburgh
Review, a journal formed by Whig politician, Henry
Brougham. Lord Lansdowne was impressed by Macaulay's articles
and in 1830 offered him the seat of Calne, a pocket
borough under his control.
On 2nd March 1831, Macaulay made a speech in support of the parliamentary
reform measures being proposed by Lord John
Russell. It was claimed that Macaulay's speech was one of the
most impressive heard in the House of Commons.
Even Sir Robert Peel who was leading the
campaign against the Reform Act, praised
Macaulay's contribution to the debate. In June 1832 Earl
Grey appointed Macaulay as a commissioner of the board of control.
In the general election that followed the passing of the 1832
Reform Act, Macaulay was the Whig candidate
for the newly established parliamentary constituency of Leeds.
His rival for the seat was the Radical Tory, Michael
Sadler, who had been involved in the campaign against child labour.
Macaulay was elected with 2,012 votes with Sadler only obtaining 1,596.
Macaulay pleased his father with his role in abolishing the British
slave-trade in the West Indies. Zachary Macaulay had been involved
in several bad business deals and was now deeply in debt. In an attempt
to help his father pay off his creditors, Thomas Macaulay accepted
a lucrative post on the Supreme Council of India. During his stay
in office Macaulay received £50,000 and was able to pay off his
father's debts.
In 1839 Macaulay was elected to represent Edinburgh.
Soon after arriving back in the House of Commons, Lord
Melbourne appointed Macaulay as his Secretary of War. He held
the post until the fall of the Melbourne government in 1841.
Out of office, Macaulay now had the time to write. As well as producing
articles for the Edinburgh Review,
Macaulay began work on his History of England.
In 1846 Macaulay became postmaster-general in the government led by
Lord John Russell. Macaulay rarely spoke
in the House of Commons but he did play an active role in support
of John Fielden and his campaign for the
Ten Hour Act.
After his defeat in the 1847 general election, Macaulay once again
returned to writing his History of England.
The first two volumes were published to great acclaim in 1848. Over
13,000 copies were sold in four months. Only Sir
Water Scott and Charles Dickens could
compete with Macaulay's popularity as a writer.
In July 1852 Thomas Macaulay was once again returned as MP for Edinburgh.
However, he rarely attended the House of Commons and spent most of
his time trying to finish his History of
England. The third and four volumes were published in December
1855. Although criticised for its pro-Whig sympathies, the History
of England sold over 26,000 copies in ten weeks. The work was
also translated into German, Polish, Danish, Swedish, Italian, French,
Dutch, Spanish, Hungarian, Russian, Bohemian and Persian.
In August 1857 Lord Palmerston granted
Macaulay the title Baron Macaulay of Rothley. He attended the House
of Lords for debates but refused the offer of a post in the government.
Thomas Macaulay died on 28th December 1859.
(1)
Thomas Macaulay, letter to Thomas Flower
Ellis on the vote in the House of Commons on the Reform
Act (30th March, 1831)
Such a scene as the division of last Tuesday I never saw, and never
expect to see again. If I should live fifty years the impression of
it will be as fresh and sharp in my mind as if it had just taken place.
It was like seeing Caesar stabbed in the Senate House, or seeing Oliver
taking the mace from the table, a sight to be seen only once and never
to be forgotten. The crowd overflowed the House in every part. When
the doors were locked we had six hundred and eight members present,
more than fifty five than were ever in a division before.
When Charles Wood who stood near the door jumped up on a bench and
cried out. 'They are only three hundred and one.' We set up a shout
that you might have heard to Charing Cross - waving our hats - stamping
against the floor and clapping our hands. The tellers scarcely got
through the crowd. But you might have heard a pin drop as Duncannon
read the numbers. Then again the shouts broke out - and many of us
shed tears - I could scarcely refrain. And the jaw of Peel fell; and
the face of Twiss was as the face of a damned soul. We shook hands
and clapped each other on the back, and went out laughing, crying,
and huzzaing into the lobby.
(2)
Thomas Macaulay, letter to Hannah Macaulay
on the Reform Act (13th September, 1831)
Three weeks will probably settle the whole matter, and bring to the
issue the question, Reform or Revolution. One or the other I am certain
that we must and shall have. I assure you that the violence of the
people, the bigotry of the Lords, and the stupidity and weakness of
the ministers, alarm me so much that even my rest is disturbed by
vexation and uneasy forebodings.
(3)
Thomas Macaulay, letter to Hannah and
Margaret Macaulay on the Reform Act (30th
March, 1831)
The royal assent was given yesterday afternoon to the Reform Bill.
I rejoice at the course which the King has taken. It has had the effect
that Lord Grey and the Whigs have all the honour of the Reform Bill
and the King none of it. The King makes great concessions: but he
makes them reluctantly and ungraciously. The people receive them without
gratitude or affection. What madness - to give more to his subjects
than any King ever gave, and yet to give in such a manner as to get
no thanks.
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