Charles Bradlaugh
(1833-1891), Politician; MP for Northampton and freethinker; founder of National Secular SocietySitter in 18 portraits
Bradlaugh left school at eleven and worked as a clerk to a coal merchant. He enlisted in the army in 1850 and served in Ireland until 1853. On his return to London he became a pamphleteer and writer about 'secularist' ideas under the pseudonym 'Iconoclast'. In 1880 he was elected as an MP, and claimed the right to affirm, a non-religious alternative to taking the Oath of Allegiance, but this was denied. Because all MPs had to take the Oath before taking their seat or voting, he effectively forfeited his seat in Parliament. With the support of his constituency he successfully recontested Northampton four times, and on each occasion pleaded his case to affirm. Finally in 1888 he secured an act to permit parliamentary affirmations.
by Sydney Prior Hall
pencil
NPG 2313
by Sydney Prior Hall
pencil
NPG 2314
by Sydney Prior Hall
pencil
NPG 2316
by Harry Furniss
pen and ink, 1880s-1900s
NPG 3555
The Lobby of the House of Commons, 1886
by Liborio Prosperi ('Lib')
oil on canvas, published in Vanity Fair Christmas Supplement 1886
NPG 5256
Charles Bradlaugh; John Bright
by Sydney Prior Hall
pencil, circa 1887
NPG 2332
Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham; Charles Bradlaugh
by Sir Francis Carruthers Gould ('F.C.G.')
pencil, circa 1889
NPG 2868
by Walter Sickert
pencil, 1890
NPG 2206
by Unknown photographer
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax18357
by Unknown photographer
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG x1212
by Unknown photographer
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG x44842
by Elliott & Fry
chlorobromide print on cream card mount, 1890
NPG x127413
Charles Bradlaugh ('Statesmen. No. 328.')
by Sir Leslie Ward
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 12 June 1880
NPG D43962
"The Gladstone Memorial" (Charles Bradlaugh; William Ewart Gladstone)
by Unknown artist
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 7 December 1881
NPG D44044
by Alfred Concanen, published by Charles Sheard
chromolithograph, circa 1886
NPG D42768
by Harry Edwin
silhouette, circa 1887-1891
NPG D538
by William Strang
etching, circa 1890
NPG D9019
after William Strang
etching, circa 1890
NPG D4414
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