Charlotte Wilson
Encyclopedia
Charlotte M. Wilson was an English anarchist
who co-founded Freedom
newspaper in 1886 with Peter Kropotkin
, and edited, published, and largely financed it during its first decade. She remained editor of Freedom until 1895.
Born Charlotte Mary Martin, she was the daughter of a well-to-do physician, Robert Spencer Martin. She was educated at Newnham College at Cambridge University. She married Arthur Wilson and the couple moved to London. Charlotte Wilson joined the Fabian Society
in 1884. In 1886, parliamentarians within the Fabian Society proposed that it organize as a political party; William Morris
and Wilson opposed the motion, but were defeated. She subsequently resigned from the Society in April 1887, continuing her association with the anarchists from the Society.
She wrote extensively to Karl Pearson
about the Fabians, the Karl Marx Society and about her "Russian Society" from 1884 to 1896.
In 1886, Wilson and Kropotkin co-founded Freedom
, an anarchist newspaper. The newspaper's mission statement is stated in every issue, on page 2, and summarises the writers' view of anarchism:
Her publication Work (1888) was mistakenly attributed to Kropotkin for many years.
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
who co-founded Freedom
Freedom newspaper
Freedom is a London-based anarchist newspaper published fortnightly by Freedom Press.The paper was started in 1886 by volunteers including Peter Kropotkin and Charlotte Wilson and continues to this day as an unpaid project. Originally, the subtitle was "A Journal of Anarchist Socialism." The title...
newspaper in 1886 with Peter Kropotkin
Peter Kropotkin
Prince Pyotr Alexeyevich Kropotkin was a Russian zoologist, evolutionary theorist, philosopher, economist, geographer, author and one of the world's foremost anarcho-communists. Kropotkin advocated a communist society free from central government and based on voluntary associations between...
, and edited, published, and largely financed it during its first decade. She remained editor of Freedom until 1895.
Born Charlotte Mary Martin, she was the daughter of a well-to-do physician, Robert Spencer Martin. She was educated at Newnham College at Cambridge University. She married Arthur Wilson and the couple moved to London. Charlotte Wilson joined the Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
in 1884. In 1886, parliamentarians within the Fabian Society proposed that it organize as a political party; William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
and Wilson opposed the motion, but were defeated. She subsequently resigned from the Society in April 1887, continuing her association with the anarchists from the Society.
She wrote extensively to Karl Pearson
Karl Pearson
Karl Pearson FRS was an influential English mathematician who has been credited for establishing the disciplineof mathematical statistics....
about the Fabians, the Karl Marx Society and about her "Russian Society" from 1884 to 1896.
In 1886, Wilson and Kropotkin co-founded Freedom
Freedom newspaper
Freedom is a London-based anarchist newspaper published fortnightly by Freedom Press.The paper was started in 1886 by volunteers including Peter Kropotkin and Charlotte Wilson and continues to this day as an unpaid project. Originally, the subtitle was "A Journal of Anarchist Socialism." The title...
, an anarchist newspaper. The newspaper's mission statement is stated in every issue, on page 2, and summarises the writers' view of anarchism:
Her publication Work (1888) was mistakenly attributed to Kropotkin for many years.