The Rainbow Circle
Encyclopedia
The Rainbow Circle was a political group consisting of Liberals, Fabians and socialists who first began to meet in 1893 in London
to consider if it was possible to resolve the relationship between the various progressive forces they represented, in order to advance the cause of political, industrial and social reform in a consistent and coherent programme. In 1894 they were meeting regularly at the Rainbow Tavern in Fleet Street
from which the group took its name. However in 1896 they moved the venue for their gatherings to a member's house in Bloomsbury
Square but retained the name Rainbow Circle.
According to one source the group continued to meet until 1931. but the archives at the British Library of Political and Economic Science indicate there are papers going as late as 1966. The circle's heydey however was the early years, before the formation of the Labour Representation Committee in 1900 and that organisation's journey to become the Labour Party
.
Amongst the leading figures in the group were Charles Trevelyan
, Herbert Samuel
, J A Hobson
and Ramsay MacDonald
.
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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...
to consider if it was possible to resolve the relationship between the various progressive forces they represented, in order to advance the cause of political, industrial and social reform in a consistent and coherent programme. In 1894 they were meeting regularly at the Rainbow Tavern in Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
from which the group took its name. However in 1896 they moved the venue for their gatherings to a member's house in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
Square but retained the name Rainbow Circle.
According to one source the group continued to meet until 1931. but the archives at the British Library of Political and Economic Science indicate there are papers going as late as 1966. The circle's heydey however was the early years, before the formation of the Labour Representation Committee in 1900 and that organisation's journey to become the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.
Amongst the leading figures in the group were Charles Trevelyan
Sir Charles Trevelyan, 3rd Baronet
Sir Charles Philips Trevelyan, 3rd Baronet PC , the Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland, was a British Liberal, and later Labour, politician and landowner...
, Herbert Samuel
Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel
Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel GCB OM GBE PC was a British politician and diplomat.-Early years:...
, J A Hobson
John A. Hobson
John Atkinson Hobson , commonly known as John A. Hobson or J. A. Hobson, was an English economist and critic of imperialism, widely popular as a lecturer and writer.-Life:...
and Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
.
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