BRIGHT, JOHN, a popular politician, first brought into notice by the anti-corn-law agitation, son of Jacob Bright, a Quaker cotton spinner and manufacturer at Rochdale, Lancashire, was b. at Grecnbank, near that town. Nov. 16, 1811. In 1835, he made a foreign tour. which included a journey to Palestine, and, on his return, delivered before a literary institution at Rochdale, of which he was one of the founders, lectures on the subject of his travels, and on topics connected with commerce and political economy. When the anti-corn-law league was formed in 1839, he was one of its leading members, and, with Mr. Cobden, engaged in an extensive free-trade agitation throughout the kingdom. In the spring of 1843, he offered himself as a coadidate for the representa tion of Durham, and, though at first unsuccessful, he became, in July of the same year, M.P. for that city. At all times an animated and effective speaker, B. was incessant, both at public meetings and in parliament, in his opposition to the corn laws, until they were filially repealed. In 1845, he obtained the appointment of a select committee of the house of commons on the game laws, and also one on the subject of cultivation in India. An abridgment of the evidence taken before the former, published in one volume, contained from his pen an Address to the Tenant Farmers of Great Britain, strongly condemning the existing game laws. At the general election of 1847, he was elected one of the members for 31ancnester. He co-operated with Mr. Cobden in the
movement in favor of financial reform. On the formation of the first Derby ministry, Feb. 27, 1852, B. aided in the temporary reorganization of the corn-law league, in favor of the principles of free trade; and at the general election which followed, was re-elected for Manchester. A member of the peace society, and strenuously opposed to the war with Russia in 1854, B. was one of the meeting of the society of Friends, by whom a deputation was sent to the emperor Nicholas to urge upon him the maintenance of peace; and in 1855 he energetically denounced the Crimean war. A severe illness compelled him to withdraw for a time to the continent, and in his absence lie was rejected by Man chester. Elected in 1857 for Birmingham, he seconded the motion against the second reading of the conspiracy bill, which led to the overthrow of lord Palmerston's govern ment. His name then became chiefly associated with the movement for reforming the electoral representation, which resulted in the act of 1867. In 1868, he accepted office a8 president of the board of trade, but in 1870 was again obliged to retire, in consequence of severe illness. His health having been partially restored, be held office in 1873-74 as chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. A collection of his Speeches was published in 1868.