George Mudie (Owenite)
Encyclopedia
George Mudie was an Owenite, cooperator
and publisher.
Born in Edinburgh
, Scotland
in 1788, Mudie became a supporter of Robert Owen
's cooperative principles. In 1818 he was a member of a discussion group that met in St Andrew's Chapel, Edinburgh
, and he tried to persuade that group to form a newsroom. When the group refused to take up this idea, he apparently left Scotland in disgust and travelled to London
, where he became a part-time publisher and editor of The Sun.
On 23 January 1821 he met a group of printers at Mitchell's Assembly Rooms, London
, where he outlined a plan to form a community. The idea was taken up, a committee was formed, and the group began to raise money. To help with the fund-raising Mudie began a weekly journal, the Economist, starting 21 January 1821.
By 17 November 1821 the 'Spa Fields Congregational Families
' had taken a number of properties at Guildford Street East, Bagnigge Wells Road and Spa Fields
, and had begun to live together. George Hinde was chairman of the community and one of its most prominent members was Henry Hetherington
, a London printer.
By March 1822 Mudie's work on the Economist had become slovenly due to his workload with the community, and he ceased publication of the periodical. In 1824 he was forced by the proprietors of The Sun to either resign as editor or abandon the community. He chose the latter and the Spa Fields
community was dipersed.
Mudie moved to Orbiston where Abram Combe
was creating a new community. He invested all his money in the venture but soon quarrelled with Combe over his 'dictatorial pretensions', and he had left the community by 1827. During this period he published The Advocate of the Working Classes (Edinburgh, 1826-27).
He had moved back to London
by 1840, where he was living at 243 The Strand
, London
. He was working as a teacher and also published The Grammar of the English Language truly made Easy and Amusing by the Invention of Three Hundred Moveable Parts of Speech (London, 1840). At this time he announced that he had invented an 'illuminated temple of letters' which would enable a child to learn the alphabet in just one day. He was also interested in shorthand writing.
By 1848 he had moved to 23 Parr Street, Hoxton
, London
, where he published A Solution of the Portentious [sic?] Enigma of Modern Civilization (London, 1849).
Cooperator
Cooperator may refer to:*cooperators of Opus Dei*a cooperative member*Cooperation*Contingent cooperator**see also: Collaboration*Frater et Cooperator Imperii title given to Boleslaus I of Poland...
and publisher.
Born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1788, Mudie became a supporter of Robert Owen
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was a Welsh social reformer and one of the founders of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement.Owen's philosophy was based on three intellectual pillars:...
's cooperative principles. In 1818 he was a member of a discussion group that met in St Andrew's Chapel, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, and he tried to persuade that group to form a newsroom. When the group refused to take up this idea, he apparently left Scotland in disgust and travelled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he became a part-time publisher and editor of The Sun.
On 23 January 1821 he met a group of printers at Mitchell's Assembly Rooms, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he outlined a plan to form a community. The idea was taken up, a committee was formed, and the group began to raise money. To help with the fund-raising Mudie began a weekly journal, the Economist, starting 21 January 1821.
By 17 November 1821 the 'Spa Fields Congregational Families
Spa Fields
Spa Fields is a park, and surrounding area, in the London Borough of Islington in London, bordering Finsbury and Clerkenwell. Historically it is known for the Spa Fields riots of 1816 and an Owenite community which existed there between 1821 and 1824...
' had taken a number of properties at Guildford Street East, Bagnigge Wells Road and Spa Fields
Spa Fields
Spa Fields is a park, and surrounding area, in the London Borough of Islington in London, bordering Finsbury and Clerkenwell. Historically it is known for the Spa Fields riots of 1816 and an Owenite community which existed there between 1821 and 1824...
, and had begun to live together. George Hinde was chairman of the community and one of its most prominent members was Henry Hetherington
Henry Hetherington
Henry Hetherington was a leading British Chartist.- Early years :Henry Hetherington was the son of a London tailor, John Hetherington , and was born on 17 June 1792, at 16 Compton Street, Soho, London...
, a London printer.
By March 1822 Mudie's work on the Economist had become slovenly due to his workload with the community, and he ceased publication of the periodical. In 1824 he was forced by the proprietors of The Sun to either resign as editor or abandon the community. He chose the latter and the Spa Fields
Spa Fields
Spa Fields is a park, and surrounding area, in the London Borough of Islington in London, bordering Finsbury and Clerkenwell. Historically it is known for the Spa Fields riots of 1816 and an Owenite community which existed there between 1821 and 1824...
community was dipersed.
Mudie moved to Orbiston where Abram Combe
Abram Combe
Abram Combe was a British utopian socialist and Christian social reformer, an associate of Robert Owen and a major figure in the early co-operative movement.-Life:...
was creating a new community. He invested all his money in the venture but soon quarrelled with Combe over his 'dictatorial pretensions', and he had left the community by 1827. During this period he published The Advocate of the Working Classes (Edinburgh, 1826-27).
He had moved back to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by 1840, where he was living at 243 The Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was working as a teacher and also published The Grammar of the English Language truly made Easy and Amusing by the Invention of Three Hundred Moveable Parts of Speech (London, 1840). At this time he announced that he had invented an 'illuminated temple of letters' which would enable a child to learn the alphabet in just one day. He was also interested in shorthand writing.
By 1848 he had moved to 23 Parr Street, Hoxton
Hoxton
Hoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, immediately north of the financial district of the City of London. The area of Hoxton is bordered by Regent's Canal on the north side, Wharf Road and City Road on the west, Old Street on the south, and Kingsland Road on the east.Hoxton is also a...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he published A Solution of the Portentious [sic?] Enigma of Modern Civilization (London, 1849).
Mudie in print
- The Modern Athens, London (London, n.d.), published by George Mudie
- George Mudie. A Few Particulars Respecting the Secret History of the Late Forum (Edinburgh, 1812)
- George Mudie. Report of a Committee Appointed at a Meeting odf Journeymen Printers to take into Consideration Propositions by George Mudie for a System of Social Arrnagements to Effect Improvement in the Condition of the Working Classes and of Society at Large (London, 1821)
- Economist (27 January 1821 to 9 March 1822, London), published by George Mudie
- The Political Economist and Universal Philanthropist (London, 1822), printed by Henry HetheringtonHenry HetheringtonHenry Hetherington was a leading British Chartist.- Early years :Henry Hetherington was the son of a London tailor, John Hetherington , and was born on 17 June 1792, at 16 Compton Street, Soho, London...
, edited by George Mudie - The Advocate of the Working Classes (1826-27, Edinburgh), published by George Mudie
- The Gazette of the Exchange Bazaars, and Practical Guide to the Rapid Establishment of the Public Prosperity (September-November 1832, Edinburgh), printed by George Mudie
- The Edinburgh Cornucopia (September 1831-March 1832, Edinburgh), edited by George Mudie
- The Cornucopia Britannica (London, 1838), edited by George Mudie
- Alarm Bell!, or Herald of the Spirit of Truth (London, 1838)
- George Mudie. The Grammar of the English Language truly made Easy and Amusing by the Invention of Three Hundred Moveable Parts of Speech (London, 1840), published by George Mudie
- George Mudie. A Solution of the Portentious Enigma of Modern Civilization (London, 1849), published by George Mudie