Radical socialites or sociable radicals?

: The Foxite Whigs in caricature, 1780 – 1810

Abstract

Through using the lens of visual political culture and by adopting an interdisciplinary methodology, it is the aim of this thesis is to re-evaluate the Foxite Whigs’ parliamentary and extra-parliamentary history, and their tactical use of sociability. Following a dedicated study of Foxite sociability in chapter one, including its venues, manifestations, and organisation, the following chapters are structured chronologically from 1780-1810, and thematically underpinned by relevant themes of radicalism. The second chapter focuses on the 1784 General Election and the theme of plebeian radicalism. Chapter three investigates the themes of popular, dissenting, and French Revolutionary radicalism. Irish revolutionary and French revolutionary war radicalism are the thematic focus of chapter four. The final radical theme under investigation in chapter five and differing slightly is Foxite-Napoleonic sympathy or French Revolutionary hangover radicalism. By utilising original research into contemporary newspapers, letters, diaries, legal records, parliamentary accounts, and political caricature, Foxite sociability is identified and exemplified as existing in two primary forms – insular and porous.

It is the contention of this thesis that insular sociability bonded each Foxite to one another and to the nucleus of Foxite sociability – Fox. Insular sociability manifested itself through dining, drinking to excess, or gambling in a private setting with members of the same aristocratic or political order. Porous sociability however was the extra-parliamentary mechanism by which Fox and his faction tactically opened their insular Whig World to forge connections with the lower orders, French revolutionary leaders, popular radicals, and Irish rebels. Yet, it was the Foxites’ willingness to open their sociability that gave a degree of credibility to hostile caricature, which continually depicted the Foxites as ‘sociable radicals’ in imagined scenes of Foxite-radical conviviality and sociability. Building upon works from an array of disciplines, by scholars such as Elaine Chalus, Jon Mee, John Brewer, and Diana Donald, this thesis offers a dedicated investigation into the Foxite Whigs, and their extra- parliamentary and sociable relationship with the defined radical themes. More broadly this work advocates for the use of visual culture as a lens through which to study and enter the ‘wordless experience’ of the eighteenth century.

Date of Award	6 Dec 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Sponsors	South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership
Supervisor	James Thompson (Supervisor) & Martyn J Powell (Supervisor)