![Ernest Charles Jones, 1850s](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Ernest_Charles_Jones%2C_1850s.jpg)
Ernest Charles Jones (25 January 181926 January 1869) was an English poet, novelist and
Chartist.
Dorothy Thompson points out that Jones was born into the landed gentry, became a barrister, and left a large documentary record. "He is the best-remembered of the Chartist leaders, among the pioneers of the modern Labour movement, and a friend of both Marx and Engels."
Early life
Jones was born on 25 January 1819 in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
, while his parents were visiting the Prussian court. He was the son of a
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
Major named Charles Gustavus Jones,
equerry
An equerry (; from French ' stable', and related to 'squire') is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually up ...
to the
Duke of Cumberland
Duke of Cumberland is a peerage title that was conferred upon junior members of the British Royal Family, named after the historic county of Cumberland.
History
The Earldom of Cumberland, created in 1525, became extinct in 1643. The dukedom ...
, afterwards King of
Hanover
Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-largest city in Northern Germany ...
. In 1838 Jones came to England, and in 1841 published anonymously ''The Wood-Spirit'', a romantic novel.
This was followed by some songs and poems. He entered the
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known simply as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers, the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn an ...
in 1841 and on 20 April 1844 he was called to the bar.
Chartism
In 1845, he joined the
Chartist agitation, quickly becoming its most prominent figure, and vigorously carrying on the party's campaign on the platform and in the press. His speeches, in which he openly advocated physical force, led to his prosecution, and he was sentenced in 1848 to two years' imprisonment for
seditious
Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward rebellion against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or insurrection against, establ ...
speeches. While in prison he wrote, it is said in his own blood on leaves torn from a prayer-book, ''The Revolt of Hindostan'', an epic poem.
Upon his release from prison, he conducted a Chartist newspaper: the ''Notes to The People'' (1850–1852). He became a leading figure in the "National Charter Association" in the phase of its decline, together with his friend
George Julian Harney
George Julian Harney (17 February 1817 – 9 December 1897) was a British political activist, journalist, and Chartist leader. He was also associated with Marxism, socialism, and universal suffrage.
Early life
George Julian Harney, the son ...
, and helped to give the Chartist movement a clearer socialist direction. Following the closing of ''Notes to The People'', Jones launched another Chartist publication, the ''People's Paper'' in May 1852.
Jones knew
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, critic of political economy, and socialist revolutionary. His best-known titles are the 1848 ...
and
Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels ( ,["Engels"](_blank)
'' French Revolution of 1848
The French Revolution of 1848 (french: Révolution française de 1848), also known as the February Revolution (), was a brief period of civil unrest in France, in February 1848, that led to the collapse of the July Monarchy and the foundation ...
were credited to him, he co-authored six more with Jones, and according to Marx, he also made contributions to all articles on economics published in the paper from 1851 to 1852, which constituted two-thirds of articles appearing in the publication. He also contributed 25 articles to the ''People's Paper''. Jones, a strident anti-imperialist, has been credited as an influence on Marx's views regarding colonialism, which shifted during the 1850s from seeing imperialism as a progressive, modernising force to regarding it as having a destructive effect on colonised societies: Jones' imprisonment had come about after he had given a speech in east London advocating for the independence of Ireland from British control, and wrote a series of articles in the ''People's Paper'' in 1853 expressing the hope that the
sepoy
''Sepoy'' () was the Persian-derived designation originally given to a professional Indian infantryman, traditionally armed with a musket, in the armies of the Mughal Empire.
In the 18th century, the French East India Company and its oth ...
s of the
Presidency armies
The presidency armies were the armies of the three presidencies of the East India Company's rule in India, later the forces of the British Crown in India, composed primarily of Indian sepoys. The presidency armies were named after the presidenc ...
would turn against
the rule of the East India Company to launch a struggle for Indian independence, prefiguring the
1857 rebellion by four years.
However, Jones was almost the National Charter Association's only public speaker; he was out of sympathy with the other leading Chartists, and soon joined the advanced
Radical
Radical may refer to:
Politics and ideology Politics
*Radical politics, the political intent of fundamental societal change
*Radicalism (historical), the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and ...
party. Jones was a member of the Manchester section of the
International Workingmen's Association
The International Workingmen's Association (IWA), often called the First International (1864–1876), was an international organisation which aimed at uniting a variety of different left-wing socialist, communist and anarchist groups and trad ...
.
Return to Convention
Afterwards, when the political and social agitation had died down, he returned to his practice as a
barrister
A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...
, which he had deserted, and also wrote largely. He produced a number of novels, including ''
The Maid of Warsaw'' and ''
Woman's Wrongs'', also some poems, ''
The Painter of Florence'', ''
The Battle Day'' (1855), ''
The Revolt of Hindostan'' (1857), and ''
Corayda'' (1859). Some of his lyrics, such as ''
The Song of the Poor'', ''
The Song of the Day Labourers'', and ''
The Factory Slave'', were well known.
Death
He made several unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament and was about to contest
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
, with the certainty of being returned, when he died in
Ardwick,
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
in 1869. He is buried in
Ardwick Cemetery. He is believed to have sacrificed a considerable fortune rather than abandon his Chartist principles. His wife was Jane Atherley; and his son,
Llewellyn Atherley-Jones
Llewellyn Archer Atherley-Jones QC (1851 – 15 June 1929) was a radical British Liberal Party politician and Barrister who eventually became a judge.
Background
Atherley-Jones was the son of Ernest Jones, a prominent Chartist leader who ...
, K.C. (1851–1929), was a
barrister
A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...
and
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
Member of Parliament.
Works
![Ernest jones photo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Ernest_jones_photo.jpg)
* ''Infantine effusions''. F. H. Nestler, Hamburg 183
Digitalisat* ''The Wood-Spirit. A Novel''. T. W. Boone, London 184
Band 1 Digitalisat* Fergus O'Connor, Ernst Charles Jones (Hrsg.): ''The Labourer; A monthly magazin of politics, literature, poetry & c.'' Bd. 1. Northern Star Office, Manchester 184
Digitalisat* Fergus O'Connor, Ernst Charles Jones (Hrsg.): ''The Labourer; A monthly magazin of politics, literature, poetry & c.'' Bd. 2. Northern Star Office, Manchester 184
Digitalisat* Fergus O'Connor, Ernst Charles Jones (Hrsg.): ''The Labourer; A monthly magazin of politics, literature, poetry & c.'' Nd. 3. Northern Star Office, Manchester 184
Digitalisat* Fergus O'Connor, Ernst Charles Jones (Hrsg.): ''The Labourer; A monthly magazin of politics, literature, poetry & c.'' Northern Star Office, Manchester 184
Digitalisat* Hrsg.: ''Notes to the People. The Champion of Political Justice and Universal Right''. London May 1851 until 185
Digitalisat 1851* ''Co-operation''. In: ''Notes to the People''. Nro. 21. September, 20th 1851
* ''Three to One''. In: ''Notes to the People''. Nro. 26 25 September 1851
* ''What Is
Kossuth?'' In: ''Notes to the People''. Nro. 31 vom 29 November 1851
* ''Erklärung gegen
Karl Heinzen
Karl Peter Heinzen (22 February 1809 – 12 November 1880) was a revolutionary author who resided mainly in Germany and the United States. He was one of the German Forty-Eighters. He advocated terrorist violence against ruling dynasties and unin ...
. Übersetzt von
Jenny Marx
Johanna Bertha Julie Jenny Edle von Westphalen (12 February 18142 December 1881) was a German theatre critic and political activist. She married the philosopher and political economist Karl Marx in 1843.
Background
Jenny von Westphalen was bor ...
. London March 1852, 3rd''.
* ''The Coming Crisis and why It Is Coming''. In: ''Notes to the People''. Nro. 16 August, 21st 1852
* ''The Storm's First Thunder''. In: ''Notes to the People''. Nro. 42 February, 19th 1853
* ''A Phamphlet on the „Revelations Concerning the Trial of the Communists at Cololone''. In: ''Notes to the People''. Nro. 47 26. 26 March 1853
* ''Secret Intrigue of Russian Tools, and Scandalous Doings of "Our" Cabinet in the East''. In: ''Notes to the People''. Nro. 86 24. Dezember, 24th 1853
* ''Different Features of Popular Feeling''. In: ''Notes to the People''. Nro. 103 April, 22nd 1854
* ''Discoveries Made Too Late''. In: ''Notes to the People''. Nro. 130 28. Oktober, 28th 1854
* ''The Maid of Warsaw, or the Tyrant Czar: a tale of the last Polish Insurrection''. London 1854
* ''Woman's Wrongs. A series of tales''. London 1855
* ''Evenings with the People. The Franchise and Taxation, an address''. London 185
Digitalisat* ''Evenings with the people. The unemployed''. London 1857
* ''The revolut of Hindostan; or the new world. A. poem''. Wilson, London 1857
[owned by Karl Marx. (Marx-Engels-Gesamtausgabe. Abteilung IV. Band 32, p. 357 Nro. 640).]
* ''Corayda. A Tale of Faith and Chibalry, and other poems''. W. Kent & Co., London 186
Digitalisat* Communist Party of Great Britain History Group Corporation (Hrsg.): ''Diary of Ernest Jones 1839–47''. Hammersmith, London 1961 (Our history 21)
Notes
References
General references
*
Attribution
*
*
Further reading
* ''The Queen against Ernest Jones. Trial of Ernest Charles Jones for sedition and unlawful assembly at the Central Criminal Court before Wilde, C.J., 10 July 1848''. o. O. 1848
* James Crossley: ''Ernest Jones. Who is he? What has he done?''. A. Heywood, Manchester 1857
* Wm. Sharman: ''Reform or revolution. Songs for the march. Dedicated by permission to Ernest Jones, confessor for freedom in 1848. Collected and edited by the Rev. Wm. Sharman, Bradford''. F. Farrah, London 1867
* ''The life and death of Ernest Jones the Chartist reformer. A memoir''. Manchester 1869
* Frederick Leary: ''The Life of Ernest Jones''. "Democrat" Publishing Office, London 188
Digitalisat* George Douglas Howard Cole: ''Ernest Jones''. In: derselbe: ''Chartist portraits''. Macmillan, London 1941
* Charlotte Alice Faber: ''Ernest Jones and the Chartist movement''. University of Wisconsin 190
Digitalisat* ''Ernest Jones and Chartism c. 1856''. In: ''International Institute of Social History. Bulletin of the International Institute for Social History, Amsterdam''. Brill, Leiden 1950 Bd. 5.1950, 2 (08), pp. 99–104
* ''Ernst Jones. Chartist. Selections from the writings and speeches of Ernest Jones with introd. and notes by'' John Saville. Lawrence & Wishart, London 1952
* de J, Fr.: ''An Open Letter from Ernest Jones to Weydemeyer''. In: ''International Institute of Social History. Bulletin of the International Institute for Social History, Amsterdam''. Brill, Leiden 1952 Bd. 7.1952, 3 (Dez.), pp. 181–189
* W. Galkin: ''Ernest Jones''. In: ''Marx und Engels und die ersten proletarischen Revolutionäre''. Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1965, pp. 456–496 und 551–554
* Hans-Jürgen Bochinski: ''Zu den Indien-Artikeln von Ernest Jones aus dem Jahre 1853''. In: ''Beiträge zur Marx-Engels-Forschung'' 3, Berlin 1978, pp. 37–44
* Stephan Lieske: ''Der Chartistenführer Ernest Jones. Sein Beitrag zur Entwicklung einer proletarischen Dichtung''. Potsdam 1985 (Potsdam, Pädagog. Hochschule, Hist.-Phil. Fak., Dis. (A), 1985)
* Ingolf Neunübel: ''Marx' und Engels' Einfluß auf Ernest Jones' Chartistenblätter "Notes to the People" und "The People's Paper" (1851/1852)''. In: Marx-Engels-Jahrbuch 8, Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1985, pp. 153–187
* Ingolf Neunübel: ''Über die Beziehungen von Karl Marx und Friedrich Engels zur Chartistenbewegung in den fünfziger Jahren des 19. Jahrhunderts. Ihre Zusammenarbeit mit dem Führer der revolutionären Chartisten * Ingolf Neunübel:''Ernest Jones im Kampf um die Reorganisation des Chartismus auf revolutionärer Grundlage''. Berlin 1986 (Institut für Marxismus-Leninismus beim ZK der SED, Diss., 1986)
* Ingolf Neunübel: ''Zu einigen ausgewählten Fragen und Problemen der Zusammenarbeit von Marx und Engels mit dem Führer der revolutionären Chartisten, Ernest Jones, im Jahre 1854''. In: ''Beiträge zur Marx-Engels-Forschung'' 22. 1987, pp. 208–217
* Miles Taylor: ''Ernest Jones, Chartism and the Romance of Politics, 1819 – 1869'', Oxford University Press 2003.
External links
Musings, information & illustrations about the Chartists from Stephen Roberts*
ttp://www.chartists.net/Where-are-they-now.htm Chartist Ancestors: Where Are They Nowincludes an account of Jones's funeral
Ernest Charles Jones: Chartist and Reformer– biography & selected writings at gerald-massey.org.uk
*
*
*
* Lyrics to
' set to music and recorded by
Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy MBE (born 21 May 1941) is an English folk singer and guitarist who has remained one of the most influential figures in British traditional music, inspiring contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, and later artists such as ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Ernest Charles
1819 births
1869 deaths
Chartists
British poets
British socialists
English socialists
British male poets
19th-century poets