Bradlaugh, Charles

Charles (1833-1891), an English statesman. He was born in London. He served in the Dragoon Guards and became a lawyer's clerk. In 1860 he founded a periodical called The National Reformer. He was a believer in the doctrine that the duties of the present life are of first importance. He rejected all forms of religious faith and worship founded on revelation. He taught that public education and government should be separated from religious affairs--the complete separation of church and state. In accordance with the British custom of permitting the election of non-resident representatives, Bradlaugh was elected to Parliament from Northampton in 1880. As he refused to take the Parliamentary oath on the ground of religious scruples, he was not permitted to take his seat. Bradlaugh appealed to the country in The True Story of My Parliamentary Struggle. He was reelected, but the House of Commons declared him an atheist unfit to sit. In 1886, a new House having convened, Bradlaugh was seated and the former resolutions forbidding his admission were expunged from the records.