William Ewart Gladstone’s Great Campaigns for Peace and Freedom

William Ewart Gladstone dominated British politics in the heyday of classical liberalism. He entered Parliament at age 23, first held a cabinet post at 34, and delivered his last speech as a Member when he was 84. He served as Prime Minister four times.

Nobel Laureate F.A. Hayek ranked Gladstone among the greatest classical liberals. Lord Acton believed Gladstone’s supremacy was undisputed. Paul Johnson declared there is no parallel to his record of achievement in English history. One might add there are few parallels anywhere.

Thomas Babington Macaulay: Extraordinary Eloquence for Liberty

Thomas Babington Macaulay ranks among the most eloquent of all authors on liberty. In terms of the sheer quantity and range of eloquence, perhaps only Thomas Jefferson soared to such breathtaking heights.

John Locke: Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property

A number of times throughout history, tyranny has stimulated breakthrough thinking about liberty. This was certainly the case in England with the mid-seventeenth-century era of repression, rebellion, and civil war. There was a tremendous outpouring of political pamphlets and tracts. By far the most influential writings emerged from the pen of scholar John Locke.

Lord Acton–Political Power Corrupts

Mr. Powell is editor of Laissez Faire Books and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. He has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, American Heritage, and more than three dozen other publications. Copyright © 1996 by Jim Powell. Few recognized the dangers of political power as clearly as Lord [...]

Mary Wollstonecraft–Equal Rights for Women

In Western Europe during the late eighteenth century, single women had little protection under the law, and married women lost their legal identity. Women couldn’t retain a lawyer, sign a contract, inherit property, vote, or have rights over their children. As Oxford law professor William Blackstone noted in his influential Commentaries on the Laws of [...]

Victor Hugo: Liberty and Justice For All

Literary lion Victor Hugo inspired an outpouring of generous sympathy for wretched people oppressed by government. He chronicled the evils of police power. He spoke out against capital punishment. He denounced taxes and tyrants. He opposed war. He expressed confidence in the ability of free people to achieve unlimited progress.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Joyous Affirmation of Human Freedom

Mr. Powell is editor of Laissez-Faire Books and Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute. He has written for The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, American Heritage, and more than three dozen other publications. Copyright © 1995 by Jim Powell. Ludwig van Beethoven inspired the world with his titanic liberating spirit. “His emotions [...]

William Penn: America’s First Great Champion for Liberty and Peace

William Penn was the first great hero of American liberty. During the late seventeenth century, when Protestants persecuted Catholics, Catholics persecuted Protestants, and both persecuted Quakers and Jews, Penn established an American sanctuary which protected freedom of conscience.

Penn decided to challenge the Conventicle Act by holding a public meeting on August 14, 1670. The Lord Mayor of London arrested him and his fellow Quakers as soon as he began expressing his nonconformist religious views.

Maria Montessori, Who Gave Children Everywhere Freedom to Achieve Independence

Despite sharp differences on political issues, people of every major culture and religion appreciate how Montessori schools set children free to learn. There are Montessori schools throughout Europe and the Americas. Montessori schools are well established in India.