Thomas Attwood (1783-1856), Political reformer

Sitter in 3 portraits
Attwood brought Birmingham to the edge of insurrection in 1832 to help ensure the passing of the Reform Act. Elected as Birmingham's first MP, he was a rare Parliamentary ally of Chartism and presented the first national petition to the House of Commons in 1839. Birmingham suffered two weeks of rioting following the petition's rejection. Attwood subsequently retired from public office and concentrated his energies on economic theory.