Edward Wakefield (1774–1854) was an English philanthropist and statistician, chiefly known as the author of ''Ireland, Statistical and Political'', and as the father of several controversial sons.

Early life

Edward was the eldest son of Edward Wakefield (1750–1826) and

Priscilla Bell Priscilla Wakefield, ''nee'' Priscilla Bell (31 January 1751 – 12 September 1832) was an English Quaker philanthropist. Her writings cover feminist economics and scientific subjects and include children's non-fiction.Ann B. Shteir, "Wakefiel ...

and was born in 1774. He was the brother of

Daniel Wakefield Daniel Wakefield (1776–1846) was a writer on political economy. Life Daniel, born in 1776, was the second son of Edward Wakefield (1750–1826), merchant, of London, by his wife Priscilla Bell, daughter of Daniel Bell. Edward Wakefield (1774 ...

(1776–1846) and Isabella Wakefield (3 Mar 1773–17 October 1841) who married Joshua Head of

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line ...

on 12 Sep 1794.

Career

Wakefield commenced adult life as a farmer near

Romford Romford is a large town in east London and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. Historically, Romfo ...

in Essex, and was subsequently employed under the naval arsenal. In 1814 he established himself as a land agent at 42 Pall Mall. He soon became well known as an authority on agriculture, while his interest in education won for him the character of a practical philanthropist. He was a strong advocate of the educational theories of

Joseph Lancaster Joseph Lancaster (25 November 1778 – 23 October 1838) was an English Quaker and public education innovator. He developed, and propagated on the grounds both of economy and efficacy, a monitorial system of primary education. In the first de ...

, and was on terms of intimacy with

James Mill James Mill (born James Milne; 6 April 1773 – 23 June 1836) was a Scottish historian, economist, political theorist, and philosopher. He is counted among the founders of the Ricardian school of economics. He also wrote ''The History of Brit ...

and

Francis Place Francis Place (3 November 1771 in London – 1 January 1854 in London) was an English social reformer. Early life He was an illegitimate son of Simon Place and Mary Gray. His father was originally a journeyman baker. He then became a Marshalse ...

Author

Wakefield is best known as the author of ''Ireland, Statistical and Political,'' published in 1812, a work which, in spite of many inaccuracies, is, from the candour and tolerance it displays, a very valuable account of Ireland in the early years of the nineteenth century. The book was undertaken in 1808 at the suggestion of

John Foster, 1st Baron Oriel John Foster, 1st Baron Oriel PC (Ire) (1740 – 23 August 1828) was an Anglo-Irish peer and politician, who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland (1784–1785, 1804–1806, 1807–1811) and as the last Speaker of the Irish House of ...

, formerly chancellor of the Irish exchequer, and Wakefield devoted four years to the task. Mackintosh in the '' Edinburgh Review,'' while noting its defects in matters of detail, said of this work that "few books have stronger marks of the candour and probity of the writer;" and McCulloch called it "the best and most complete work on Ireland since Arthur Young's tour". Wakefield was a warm admirer of Pitt, by whom he is said to have been consulted in regard to ''Ireland'', and was also confidentially employed by Lord Melville (see Robert Saunders Dundas).

Family

Wakefield married, first, on 3 October 1791, Susanna Crash (d. 1816) of Felstead, Essex, by whom he was the father of ten children, including five particularly notable ones: #Catherine Gurney Wakefield (1793–1873) married the Rev Charles Martin Torlesse (1795–1881). Mother of Charles Obins Torlesse (1825–1866) and others. #

Edward Gibbon Wakefield Edward Gibbon Wakefield (20 March 179616 May 1862) is considered a key figure in the establishment of the colonies of South Australia and New Zealand (where he later served as a member of parliament). He also had significant interests in Brit ...

(1796–1862). #

Daniel Bell Wakefield Daniel Bell Wakefield (27 February 1798 – 8 January 1858) was born in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, England. He practised law in London and was involved in planning a colony in South Australia. He migrated to New Zealand in 1842 where he served as a ...

(1798–1858). #

Arthur Wakefield Captain Arthur Wakefield (19 November 1799 – 17 June 1843) served with the Royal Navy, before joining his brother, Edward Gibbon Wakefield, in founding the new settlement at Nelson, New Zealand. Early life Arthur Wakefield was born in Essex, a ...

(1799–1843). #

William Hayward Wakefield William Hayward Wakefield (1801 – 19 September 1848) was an English colonel, the leader of the first colonising expedition to New Zealand and one of the founders of Wellington. As a leader, he attracted much controversy. Early life William W ...

(1801–1848). #John Howard Wakefield (1803–1862) married 12 January 1831 Maria Suffolk (1814–1852) and had issue. #

Felix Wakefield Felix Wakefield (30 November 1807 – 23 December 1875) was an English colonist. Early life Felix Wakefield was born in 1807, the seventh child and sixth son of Edward Wakefield (1774–1854), a distinguished surveyor and land agent, and Susa ...

(1807–1875). #Priscilla Susannah Wakefield (1809–1887) married Henry Howard Chapman (1797–1855) and had issue, including Sir Edward Francis Chapman (1840-1926) and the Rev Hugh Boswell Chapman (1853-1933). #Percy Wakefield (1810–1832). #Un-named Wakefield (1813). He married his second wife, Frances, on 3 October 1823 in

Paris, France Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

.The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; General Register Office: Foreign Registers and Returns; Class: RG 33; Piece: 63 She was the daughter of David Davies, headmaster of Macclesfield grammar school.

Death

Wakefield died at

Knightsbridge Knightsbridge is a residential and retail district in central London, south of Hyde Park. It is identified in the London Plan as one of two international retail centres in London, alongside the West End. Toponymy Knightsbridge is an ancien ...

on 18 May 1854. His appearance in later life is described as that of "a beautiful old man of lofty stature".

References

;Attribution: {{DEFAULTSORT:Wakefield, Edward 1774 births 1854 deaths People from Essex English philanthropists English statisticians Edward