FAWCETT, HENRY (1833-1884), English politician and economist, was born at Salisbury on Aug. 25, 1833, the son of a successful business man. He was educated at King's College school, London, and at Peterhouse and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was seventh wrangler in 1856, and was elected to a fellow ship at his college. He then entered Lincoln's Inn. His brilliant prospects, however, were shattered when he was blinded by a shooting accident in 1858. Nevertheless he fished, rowed, skated, walked and rode, and even learnt to play cards and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, he entered cordially into the social life of the college. He now specialized in political economy. He was a loyal follower of Mill, and as a popularizer of his economic theory and a demonstrator of its principles by concrete examples he had no rival. His power of exposition was illustrated in his Manual of Political Economy (1863), of which in 20 years as many as 20,000 copies were sold. In 1863, Fawcett stood and was elected for the chair of Political Economy at Cambridge. He was already known in political circles as an advanced Radical, and in 1865 he was elected M.P. for Brighton. In 1867 he married Millicent, daughter of Mr. Newson Garrett of Aldeburgh, Suffolk (see FAWCETT, DAME MILLICENT).
Fawcett was a severe critic of Liberal Administration and pro tested against the limited scope of the Elementary Education Bill. Gladstone's method of abolishing army purchase, certain grants to the royal family, and methods of Indian finance. In short he was a thorough going radical who was looked at askance by the Liberal Party. Constructively he accomplished some reform in Indian finance methods, and secured public attention to the preservation of commons, and of New Forest and Epping Forest. As an opponent of the Disraeli government (1874-8o) Fawcett came more into line with the Liberal leaders. When the Liberal party returned to power in 188o Gladstone offered Fawcett a place in the new government as postmaster-general (without a seat in the cabinet). He showed himself a most capable head of a public department. To his readiness in adopting suggestions, and his determination to push business through instead of allowing it to remain permanently in the stage of preparation and circumlocu tion, the public was mainly indebted for five substantial postal ref orms :—(1) The parcels post, (2) postal orders, (3) sixpenny telegrams, (4) the banking of small savings by means of stamps, (5) increased facilities for life insurance and annuities. In con nection with these last two improvements Fawcett, in 188o, with the assistance of James Cardin, took great pains in drawing up a small pamphlet called Aids to Thrift, of which over a million copies were circulated gratis. A very useful minor innovation of his provided for the announcement on every pillar-box of the time of the "next collection." In the post office, as elsewhere, he was a strong advocate of the employment of women. Pro portional representation and the extension of franchise to women were both political doctrines which he adopted very early in his career, and never abandoned. He died at Cambridge on Nov. 6, 1884, and was buried in Trumpington churchyard, near Cam bridge.
In the great affliction of his youth Fawcett bore himself with a fortitude which it would be difficult to parallel. The kindness evoked by his misfortune, a strongly reciprocated family affection, a growing capacity for making and keeping friends—these and other causes tended to ripen all that was best, and apparently that only, in a strong but somewhat stern character. His acerbity passed away, and in later life was reserved exclusively for official witnesses before parliamentary committees. Frank, helpful, conscientious to a fault, a shrewd gossip, and a staunch friend, he was a man whom no one could help liking.
See Leslie Stephen, Life of Henry Fawcett (1885) .