Sadler, Michael Thomas, 1780-1835

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Michael Sadler, 1780-1835, was born in Snelston, Derbyshire. While he was still young he assisted the Methodist movement. In 1800 he moved to Leeds where he became an importer of Irish linens. He was Tory MP for Newark, 1829 and 1830, and for Aldborough, North Yorkshire 1831-1832. He moved unsuccessfully for the establishment of poor law in Ireland, and moved resolution for improving the living conditions of the agricultural poor in England, 1831. On 16th March 1832 Sadler introduced a Bill in the House of Commons that proposed limiting the hours of all persons under the age of 18 to ten hours a day. Parliament was unwilling to pass Sadler's bill, but in April 1832 it was agreed that there should be another parliamentary enquiry into child labour. Sadler was made chairman and for the next three months the parliamentary committee interviewed 48 people who had worked in textile factories as children. On 9th July Michael Sadler discovered that at least six of these workers had been sacked for giving evidence to the parliamentary committee. Sadler announced that this victimisation meant that he could no longer ask factory workers to be interviewed. He now concentrated on interviewing doctors who had experience treating people who worked in textile factories. In the 1832 General Election, Sadler's opponent was John Marshall (1765-1845), the Leeds flax-spinning magnate. Marshall used his influence to win the election and Sadler lost his seat in the House of Commons. Sadler's report was published in January 1833. The information in the report shocked the British public and Parliament came under increasing pressure to protect the children working in factories. His publications include: 'An apology for the Methodists: being a copy of a letter to the Reverend Henry Stokes, vicar of Doveridge, Derbyshire. Containing some animadversions on one of his late discourses, and on a certain combination in that parish' (1797); 'Catholic question. Speech of Michael Thomas Sadler, Esq. MP for Newark, in the House of Commons, on Tuesday, the 17th of March, 1829, at the second reading of the Roman Catholic Emancipation Bill' (1829); 'The cause of the poor: The speech of M T Sadler, Esq. MP in the House of Commons, on Monday the 29th of August, on bringing forward his resolution for the permanent relief of the Irish poor' (1831); 'Condition of the labouring poor: Speech of Michael Thomas Sadler, Esq. in the House of Commons, on Tuesday evening, October 11, 1831, on obtaining leave to bring in a bill for bettering the condition of the labouring poor of England' (1831).

From the guide to the SADLER, Michael Thomas, 1780-1835, radical politician and philanthropic businessman, 1817-1833, (British Library of Political and Economic Science)

Epithet: social reformer

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000347.0x000202

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Sadler, Michael Thomas, 1780-1835. Autograph letter signed : London, to the Bishop of Exeter, 1830 Dec. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Sadleir, Michael, 1888-1957. Michael Sadleir papers, 1797-1958 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Young, Gavin, 1832 Senate House Library (University of London)
referencedIn OASTLER RICHARD 1789-1861 MANUFACTURER, 1833 British library of political and economic science
referencedIn Beckett, Sir John, 1775-1847. [Letter to John Henry Capper] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
creatorOf Sadler, Michael Thomas, 1780-1835. Apostrophe : autograph manuscript of the poem : [n.p., n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Frank Whitson Fetter Papers, 1902-1992 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Spence, W., 1785-?. Autograph manuscript of W. Spence's poems : with some later notes on the Greek alphabet and language. Brotherton Library, University of Leeds
referencedIn Robert Owen Collection, 1805-1858 National Co-operative Archive
referencedIn Vol. CCXIV (ff. 311). 21 Apr.-Dec. 1827.Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet; Second Secretary to the Admiralty: Correspondence with Sir R. Peel: 1813-1845.includes:ff. 1, 3 Charles Badham, FRCP: Letters to Sir R. Peel: 1827.ff. 4, 13 Edmund Peel, MP: Co... British Library
creatorOf SADLER, Michael Thomas, 1780-1835, radical politician and philanthropic businessman, 1817-1833 British library of political and economic science
referencedIn Letter to John Henry Capper., August 25, 1829 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Department of Special Collections
creatorOf Wetherell, Charles, Sir, 1770-1846. [Collection of pamphlets on the question of Catholic emancipation in Great Britain]. Stanford university libraries
referencedIn Sadler, Michael Ernest, 1861-1943. Michael Thomas Sadler, M.P., F.R.S. : a sketch of his life and opinions / M.E.S. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Beckett, Sir John, 1775-1847. person
associatedWith Exeter, Bishop of, person
associatedWith Fetter, Frank Whitson, 1899-1991 person
associatedWith Owen, Robert., 1777-1858 person
associatedWith Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915- person
associatedWith Sadleir, Michael, 1888-1957. person
associatedWith Sadler, Michael Ernest, 1861-1943. person
associatedWith Spence, W., 1785-? person
associatedWith Young, Gavin, fl 1829-1832 person
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Ireland
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History
Political history
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Birth 1780-01-03

Death 1835-07-29

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English

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