Thomas Attwood

(b London, bap. 23 Nov 1765; d there, 24 March 1838). English composer and organist. He studied in Naples and with Mozart in Vienna (1785-7; his book of studies with Mozart survives), then held important posts in London, including organist of St Paul's Cathedral and composer to the Chapel Royal (1796). Besides coronation anthems for George IV (1821) and William IV (1831), he composed music for over 30 stage productions, as well as glees, church and organ music and chamber works, the best being graceful and delicately polished and showing the influence of Mozart.

Attwood, Thomas (1783-1856). Banker, currency reformer, and founder of the Birmingham Political Union, Attwood argued that the economic ills of the nation were caused by hard money, and that the cure lay in an abundant supply of paper currency. Although now remembered chiefly for his support of parliamentary reform, he saw this as secondary to the need for a change in monetary policy. Attwood regarded himself as representing the Birmingham ‘industrious’ classes, meaning businessmen, masters, and skilled workers. He was returned for Birmingham in the reformed Parliament of 1832 and wrote continuously on monetary reform until 1847.

For the English composer and organist, see Thomas Attwood (composer).

Thomas Attwood
Born	6 October 1783(1783-10-06) Halesowen, Shropshire, England
Died	9 March 1859 (aged 75) Great Malvern, Worcestershire, England
Occupation	Banker, economist, political agitator, Member of Parliament

Thomas Attwood (6 October 1783–9 March 1859) was a British economist and strong campaigner for electoral reform.

He was born in Halesowen, and attended Halesowen Grammar School (now Earls High School) before being moved to Wolverhampton Grammar School. He founded the Birmingham Political Union in 1830. This was a political organization campaigning for cities, and large towns such as Birmingham, to be directly represented in Parliament. The Birmingham Political Union was foremost among groups lobbying the government for the passage of the Reform Bill to achieve this aim. After its success he became the first Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham on 12 December 1832, a position he held until 1839.

He died in Malvern, Worcestershire.

Memorials

Bronze statue in Chamberlain Square

Statue of Thomas Attwood in Highgate Park, Birmingham

A grade II listed statue of Thomas Attwood stood in Larches Green, Sparkbrook, Birmingham between 1974 and 2008, but is now in store. A 1993 bronze statue sits, having left his plinth, and scattered his bronze pages, on the steps of Chamberlain Square in Birmingham.

Attwood Street, a residential street in Halesowen, commemorates his achievements.

Bibliography

• Attwood, Thomas (1964). Frank Whitson Fetter. ed. Selected economic writings of Thomas Attwood. London: The London School of Economics and Political Science. 
• Moss, David J (1990). Thomas Attwood, the biography of a radical. Montreal: McGill Queens University Press. 

External links

• Biography

Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Birmingham 1832–1840 With: Joshua Scholefield	Succeeded by Joshua Scholefield and George Frederick Muntz

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