Political Sophistication in Industrial Birmingham: Reappraising Brass Manufacturers’ Campaign Against Thomas Williams, 1799–1801

Frankis, Duncan (2026) Political Sophistication in Industrial Birmingham: Reappraising Brass Manufacturers’ Campaign Against Thomas Williams, 1799–1801. Midland History, 51 (1). pp. 21-41. ISSN 0047-729X

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Abstract

Birmingham brass manufacturers mounted a sustained campaign against Thomas Williams’ copper monopoly between 1799 and 1801, demonstrating considerable political skill in the process. This challenges previous scholarship that has characterised late- eighteenth century Birmingham’s’ industrial community as politi cally unsophisticated. The manufacturers employed multiple stra tegies to challenge Williams’ control over copper supply. They presented detailed evidence to the 1799 Parliamentary Enquiry, engaged in a vigorous pamphlet war between 1799 and 1801, and mobilised political networks to support their cause. These efforts culminated in legislative reform in 1801. The campaign reveals how Birmingham’s manufacturing community understood parlia mentary procedure, utilised print culture effectively, and built coalitions to achieve their objectives. This study examines the manufacturers’ tactics and their success in securing legislative change, offering a revised understanding of how provincial indus trial interests engaged with the political system during the Industrial Revolution.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	School of Arts, Humanities and Human Sciences > Humanities
Depositing User:	Ms Hazel Barham
Date Deposited:	03 Jun 2026 09:40
Last Modified:	03 Jun 2026 09:40
URI:	https://newman.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/17405

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