Thomas Mason Jones (1833–1873) was an Irish

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 ...

journalist and political activist. Jones was born in Ireland, and claimed to have been educated at Trinity College Dublin, although he does not appear in its records. He became known as a radical speaker, and moved to England in 1858, to work as a journalist. He became well known for his work with the ''

National Reformer The ''National Reformer'' was a secularist weekly publication in 19th-century Britain (1860-1893), noted for providing a longstanding "strong, radical voice" in its time, advocating atheism. Under the editorship of Charles Bradlaugh for the major ...

''. His reports on the Garibaldi Legion brought him to wide attention, and he began lecturing on the topic. In 1863, he visited the United States, and on his return to England, he also began lecturing on the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, and in opposition to slavery. Jones was a supporter of

Chartism Chartism was a working-class movement for political reform in the United Kingdom that erupted from 1838 to 1857 and was strongest in 1839, 1842 and 1848. It took its name from the People's Charter of 1838 and was a national protest movement, w ...

, and was one of the main founders of the

Reform League The Reform League was established in 1865 to press for manhood suffrage and the ballot in Great Britain. It collaborated with the more moderate and middle class Reform Union and gave strong support to the abortive Reform Bill 1866 and the success ...

, chairing its early meetings, and speaking on its behalf, for which he was nicknamed the "Eloquent Irishman". Jones stood as a Liberal Party candidate in

Coventry Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...

at the

1865 United Kingdom general election The 1865 United Kingdom general election saw the Liberals, led by Lord Palmerston, increase their large majority over the Earl of Derby's Conservatives to 80. The Whig Party changed its name to the Liberal Party between the previous election an ...

. During his campaign, he described workers as a "rabble". The Reform League strongly objected to this and stopped working with him. Initially, he remained supportive of the league, and attended its meeting in Hyde Park in 1866, but he gradually moved away from it. At the

1868 United Kingdom general election The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom. It was the first ...

, Jones stood in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

, but was again unsuccessful. By this time, his main interests were disestablishment of the

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the second ...

and financial reform, and he was close to the Liberation Society. Jones died in 1873, leaving his family in poverty.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Thomas Mason 1833 births 1873 deaths Chartists English journalists Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates