In 1819 a group of men involved in the textile industry inManchester held regular meetings in the home ofJohn Potter. The men all shared the same passion for political reform. The group included Potter and his two sons, Thomas and Richard,John Shuttleworth,John Edward Taylor,Archibald Prentice,Joseph Brotherton,Absalom Watkin andWilliam Cowdray. The group strongly objected to a parliamentary system that denied such important industrial cities such asManchester,Leeds andBirmingham, representation in theHouse of Commons. A member of this group,William Cowdray, owned theManchester Gazette, and this provided a forum to express their views.John Edward Taylor andArchibald Prentice in particular were regular contributors to the newspaper.

Most of the men in the Potter group heldNonconformist religious views. This was not unusual inManchester as Nonconformists outnumbered Anglicans by two to one. Potter's group was particularly concerned about the close link between the government and theAnglican Church, and feared that in future schools would be used to indoctrinate children. Members of the group were all supporters ofJoseph Lancaster and his Nonconformist schools movement.

On occasions, this group of middle-class liberals, worked with working-class radicals inManchester in their campaign for parliamentary reform and the repeal of theCorn Laws. Although they believed in the principles and objectives of people likeJohn Knight,Joseph Johnson,James Wroe,Samuel Bamford,John Saxton,George Swift andJoseph Healey, they did not approve of the methods that working-class radicals were using to obtain the vote.

In 1818,John Knight,James Wroe andJohn Saxton started the radical newspaper, theManchester Observer. Within twelve months theManchester Observer was selling 4,000 copies a week. Although it started as a local paper, by 1819 it was sold in most of the large towns and cities in Britain.Henry Hunt called theManchester Observer "the only newspaper in England that I know, fairly and honestly devoted to such reform as would give the people their whole rights."

In March 1819, working-class radicals in Britain formed the Patriotic Union Society.Joseph Johnson was appointed secretary of the organisation andJames Wroe became treasurer. The main objective of the Society was to obtain parliamentary reform and during the summer of 1819 it decided to inviteMajor John CartwrightandHenry Orator Hunt to speak at a public meeting inManchester. The men were told that this was to be "a meeting of the county of Lancashire, than of Manchester alone. I think by good management the largest assembly may be procured that was ever seen in this country." Cartwright was unable to attend but Hunt agreed and the meeting was arranged to take place atSt. Peter's Field on 16th August.

Middle-class liberals, such asJohn Edward Taylor andArchibald Prentice, had doubts about the wisdom of holding this meeting, but like other supporters ofparliamentary reform, they attended in an effort to show the government how strongly the people ofManchester felt about this issue. BothJohn Edward Taylor andArchibald Prentice went home early and missed the soldiers attacking the crowd.

When Taylor and Prentice heard the news they quickly returned to St. Peter's Field and began interviewing eyewitnesses. They discovered thatJohn Tyas ofThe Times, the only reporter from a national newspaper at the meeting, had been arrested and imprisoned. Taylor and Prentice feared that this was an attempt by the government to suppress news of the event. The next edition of theManchester Gazette was not due out to Saturday. Taylor and Prentice decided to send their reports to London newspapers.

Thomas Barnes, editor ofThe Times, had a policy of not naming the writers of the articles that appeared in his newspaper, however, it is believed that the piece that appeared on Wednesday 18th August, was written byJohn Edward Taylor. It was definitely very similar to the account that appeared in the Saturday edition of theManchester Gazette. Taylor described what had taken place as the St. Peter's Field Tragedy. However, theManchester Observer called it thePeterloo Massacre and this eventually became the accepted term for the attack on the crowd.

The government responded to the events at St. Peter's Field by passing theSix Acts. Middle-class liberals like Taylor, Prentice and Shuttleworth was radicalized by these events. Disillusioned with theManchester Gazette, the group decided to start their own newspaper. Eventually eleven men, all of them involved in the textile industry, raised £1,050 for the venture.

John Edward Taylor was chosen as editor and Jeremiah Garnett was recruited as a printer and reporter. Garnett had worked for theTory newspaper,Manchester Chronicle and had been their reporter at thePeterloo Massacre. Although Garnett had his reporter's notebook confiscated by a special constable, he was still able to write a full description of what happened.Charles Wheeler, disapproved of Garnett's account and refused to print his article. Garnett resigned in protest and had been working in Huddersfield until Taylor brought him back toManchester. Although no other journalists were to be employed on the newspaper,Archibald Prentice andJohn Shuttleworth agreed to supply weekly articles.

Taylor and his partners purchased a Stanhope Press that printed 200 sheets an hour. Taylor was aware that national newspapers were using a Koenig Steam Press that printed 1,000 sheets an hour. However, it would be seven years before the group could afford to buy one of these machines.

It was decided to call the newspaper theManchester Guardian. A prospectus was published which explained the aims and objectives of the proposed newspaper. It included the passage: "It will zealously enforce the principles of civil and religious Liberty, it will warmly advocate the cause of Reform; it will endeavour to assist in the diffusion of just principles of Political Economy."

The first four-page edition appeared on Saturday 5th May, 1821 and cost 7d. Of this sum, 4d was a tax imposed by the government. TheManchester Guardian, like other newspapers at the time, also had to pay a duty of 3d a lb on paper and three shillings and sixpence on every advertisement that was included. These taxes severely restricted the number of people who could afford to buy newspapers. TheManchester Guardian, like all newspapers based outside ofLondon, could only afford to publish once a week.

In the first couple of years the weekly circulation of theManchester Guardian hovered around a 1,000 copies. Readership was much higher than this with a large number being purchased by newsrooms (a place where people could go and read a selection of newspapers). The account books ofJohn Edward Taylor show that newsrooms as far away asGlasgow,Hull andExeter purchased the newspaper. When theManchester Guardianwas first published in 1821,Manchester had six other weekly newspapers. Four were published on Saturday and two on Tuesday. TheManchester Mercury,Chronicle,Exchange Herald and theBritish Volunteer supported theTories, whereas theManchester Gazette was in favour of moderate reform. The final paper, theManchester Observer, promoted radicalism and with a circulation of 4,000, was easily the best-selling newspaper in Manchester. However, theManchester Observer had very few advertisers and was constantly being sued for libel. Several of their journalists, includingJohn WroeandJohn Saxton had been sent to prison for articles they had written criticizing the government.

With the arrival of theManchester Guardian, the Manchester Observer decided to cease publication. In its last edition the editor wrote: "I would respectfully suggest that theManchester Guardian, combining principles of complete independence, and zealous attachment to the cause of reform, with active and spirited management, is a journal in every way worthy of your confidence and support."

Sales of theManchester Guardian continued to grow. By 1823 it reached 2,000 and two years later it was over 3,000. Taylor was helped by Manchester's fast growing population. This not only provided more potential readers, but emphasized Taylor's point that Manchester needed to be represented in Parliament.

AlthoughJohn Edward Taylor was successful in using theManchester Guardian to gain more supporters for his political views, he had upset some old friends in the process.Archibald Prentice,Thomas Potter andJohn Shuttleworth all accused him of moving to the right. They complained when theManchester Guardian refused to support the campaign by John Hobhouse andMichael Sadler to reduce child labour in the textile industry. Taylor's view was that "though child labour is evil, it is better than starvation". He also refused to supportRichard Oastlerand the Ten Hour Movement. Taylor argued that this proposed legislation would cause "the gradual destruction of the cotton industry".

Taylor's views on parliamentary reform also became more conservative.John Edward Taylor no longer believed in universal suffrage and now argued that "the qualification to vote ought to be low enough to put it fairly within the power of members of the labouring classes by careful, steady and preserving industry to possess themselves of it, yet not so low as to give anything like a preponderating influence to the mere populace. The right of representation is not an inherent or abstract right, but the mere creation of an advanced condition of society."

Taylor's old friend,Archibald Prentice, became his strongest critic and accused him of betraying the reformers. In 1824 William Cowdray's widow told Prentice she was willing to sell theManchester Gazette for £1,600. With the financial help ofJohn Shuttleworth,Thomas Potter andRichard Potter,Archibald Prentice purchased theManchester Gazette and moved it to the left of theManchester Guardian.

Without articles written by people likeJohn Shuttleworth andArchibald Prentice, theManchester Guardianmoved further to the right. In 1826 theManchester Guardian gave its support toTory politicians such asGeorge Canning andWilliam Huskisson. AlthoughJohn Edward Taylor regretted the Tories opposition to parliamentary reform andCatholic Emancipation, he thought that it was better to support liberal Tories with power than to campaign forWhig reformers.

In 1831 radicals were appalled when aManchester Guardian reporter, John Harland, gave evidence about what speakers had said at a parliamentary reform meeting. As a result of John Harland's testimony, several radicals were sent to prison for sedition. Instead of punishing Harland, Taylor made him a partner in the business. The newspaper's move to the right did not damage circulation. By the 1830sJohn Edward Taylor was selling over 3,000 copies a week. What is more, theManchester Guardian was Britain's third most successful provincial newspaper.

The government's decision in 1836 to reduce the tax on newspapers also helped sales. Taylor was able to cut the price to 4d while increasing the size of the newspaper. The paper also became a bi-weekly. In 1837 the Wednesday edition sold over 4,100 whereas on Saturday it was close to 6,000 copies.

After the death ofJohn Edward Taylor in January 1844, Jeremiah Garnett became the new editor of the Manchester Guardian. Circulation continued to rise and by 1850 reached 9,110. Garnett was a supporter of theLiberal Party. He constantly defended the cause of individual liberty and campaigned for an increase in religious freedom. This included advocating equal rights for unpopular minorities such asRoman Catholics. Garnett'sManchester Guardian also gave its support to the1857 Divorce Bill.

After the tax on newspapers was finally removed in 1855, theManchester Guardian changed from being a bi-weekly to a daily newspaper. Two years later Garnett reduced the price to a penny.

Jeremiah Garnett retired in 1861 and was replaced by John Taylor, the son ofJohn Edward Taylor, the first editor of theManchester Guardian. Taylor revived the early radicalism of the founders of the newspaper. As well as supporting theParliamentary Reform Act (1867) and the Secret Ballot Act (1872) theManchester Guardian also began to carry out in-depth investigations into social problems.

Taylor ran theLondon office and the actual editing was done by a group of writers inManchester: Robert Dowman, H. M. Acton and J. M. Maclean. Taylor decided that he needed to appoint an editor who worked with the writers. His choice was his cousin,Charles Prestwich Scott. It was agreed that Scott should receive a salary of £400 a year and one-tenth of the profits.

Charles Prestwich Scott was an advocate ofparliamentary reform. As editor he gave strong support to Jacob Bright's Bill forWomen's Suffrage. Scott also joinedElizabeth Butler in her campaign against theContagious Diseases Act.

Taylor did not share Scott's views onfemale suffrage and ordered him not to use theManchester Guardian to increase the franchise. On 29th April, 1892, Taylor wrote to Scott again on this issue: "Your article yesterday for the Female Suffrage Bill was adroitly done, and your display of the cloven foot most discreetly managed; still it was quite visible. I must ask you not to advocate this measure whilst I live." Although Scott was now receiving 25% of the profits of theManchester Guardian, Taylor still controlled 75% of the company and had the power to over-rule his editor. Scott no longer received a salary but he did well from this agreement as the profits during this period ranged from £12,000 to £24,000 a year.

In the1895 General Election, Scott stood as theLiberal Party candidate for North-East Manchester. He won with a majority of 667 and once in theHouse of Commons identified himself with the left-wing of the party. In Parliament Scott advocatedwomen's suffrage and reform of theHouse of Lords.

In 1899 Scott strongly opposed theBoer War. This created a great deal of public hostility and both Scott's house and theManchester Guardian building had to be given police protection. Sales of the newspaper also dropped during this period. However, despite holding unpopular views on the war, Scott managed to regain his seat in the1900 General Election. With the help of his able lieutenants,C. E. Montague andL. T. Hobhouse, Scott continued to edit the newspaper during his period in Parliament.

When John Taylor died in October 1905, he left instructions in his will thatC. P. Scott could buy theManchester Guardian for £10,000. The trustees were unwilling to obey these demands and eventually Scott had to raise £242,000 to buy the newspaper. This was a high price considering the newspaper only made a profit of £1,200 in 1905.

Scott initially opposed Britain's involvement in theFirst World War. Scott supported his friends,John Burns,John Morley andCharles Trevelyan, when they resigned from the government over this issue. However, he refused to join anti-war organizations such as theUnion of Democratic Control (UDC). As he wrote at the time: "I am strongly of the opinion that the war ought not to have taken place and that we ought not to have become parties to it, but once in it the whole future of our nation is at stake and we have no choice but do the utmost we can to secure success."

During the summer of 1914 most of thenewspapaper's writers, includingC. E. Montague,Leonard Hobhouse,Herbert Sidebottom,Henry Nevinson, andJ. A. Hobson called for Britain to remain neutral in the growing conflict in Europe. However, once war was declared, most gave their support to the government.J. A. Hobson remained opposed to Britain's involvement and joined the and anti-war organisation, theUnion of Democratic Control (UDC). Hobson served on the UDC's executive council and wrote the bookTowards International Government (1914) which advocated the formation of a world body to prevent wars.

C. E. Montague, although forty-seven with a wife and seven children, volunteered to join theBritish Army. Grey since his early twenties, Montague died his hair in an attempt to persuade the army to take him. On 23rd December, 1914, the Royal Fusiliers accepted him and he joined the Sportsman's Battalion. Montague was later promoted to the rank of second lieutenant and transferred to Military Intelligence. For the next two years he had the task of writing propaganda for theBritish Army and censoring articles written by the five authorized English journalists on theWestern Front (Perry Robinson,Philip Gibbs,Percival Phillips,Herbert Russell andBleach Thomas).Howard Spring, another of the newspaper's writers, also worked for the Military Intelligence in France.

Henry Nevinson, the newspaper's main war reporter, was highly critical of the tactics used by theBritish Army but was unable to get this view past the censors.C. P. Scott andLeonard Hobhouseopposedconscription introduced in 1916 and the following year supported attempts made byArthur Henderson to secure a negotiated peace.

Although Scott was critical of the wayDavid Lloyd George handled the peace negotiations atVersailles, he supported him in his struggle withHerbert Asquith. After theConservative victory in the1922 General Election, Scott worked hard to unite theLiberal Party. However, his loyal support of Lloyd George made this an impossible task.

Kingsley Martin went to work for theManchester Guardian in 1927: "C. P. Scott was a remarkable figure. At the age of eighty he was bent nearly double, blind in one eye, but more fierce in expression than any other man I have known. He still rode his bicycle through the muddy and dangerous streets of Manchester, swaying between the tramlines, with white hair and whiskers floating in the breeze, equally oblivious of rain and traffic. Unconsciously, I am sure, he thought that no one in Manchester would hurt him."

C. E. Montague, who was married to C. P. Scott's only daughter, Madeline, died in June, 1929. He had worked for theManchester Guardian for over thirty-five years. The following month, Scott, after fifty-seven years as editor, decided to retire. Scott had initially expected his eldest son, Laurence Scott, to succeed him as editor. However, while involved in charity work in the Ancoats slums, he caughttuberculosis and died. It was therefore, Edward Scott, the youngest son, who took over from his father. Although officially retired,C. P. Scott kept a close watch over the newspaper until his death on 1st January, 1932.

It its editorial that week,The New Statesman compared Scott toLord Northcliffe: "Every newspaper lives by appealing to a particular public. It can only go ahead of its times if it carries its public with it. Success in journalism depends on understanding the public. But success is of two kinds. Northcliffe had a genius for understanding his public and he used it for making money, not for winning permanent influence.... C. P. Scott succeeded in a different way. He had just as much flair, just as acute an understanding of his public as Northcliffe. But his relationship to it was a professional, not a commercial relation. He taught his public to trust his integrity, to rely on the facts he told them, to respect his judgment, and to listen to his criticism. He offered his undivided services. I remember his saying that there was a definite moment in his life, the equivalent of a religious conversion, when he dedicated his life wholly to his paper and the causes it served."

Diaries of C.P. Scott

The Manchester Guardian