Regency and Victorian Birmingham

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thomas attwood addressing 200,000-strong meeting of birmingham political union during days of may, 1832


birmingham rose national political prominence in campaign political reform in 19th century, thomas attwood , birmingham political union bringing country brink of civil war during days of may preceded passing of great reform act in 1832. union s meetings on newhall hill in 1831 , 1832 largest political assemblies britain had ever seen. lord durham, drafted act, wrote country owed reform birmingham, , salvation revolution . reputation having shaken fabric of privilege base in 1832 led john bright make birmingham platform successful campaign second reform act of 1867, extended voting rights urban working class.


birmingham s tradition of innovation continued 19th century. birmingham terminus both of world s first 2 long-distance railway lines: 82 mile grand junction railway of 1837 , 112 mile london , birmingham railway of 1838. birmingham schoolteacher rowland hill invented postage stamp , created first modern universal postal system in 1839. alexander parkes invented first man-made plastic in jewellery quarter in 1855.


by 1820s, extensive canal system had been constructed, giving greater access natural resources , fuel industries. during victorian era, population of birmingham grew rapidly on half million , birmingham became second largest population centre in england. birmingham granted city status in 1889 queen victoria. joseph chamberlain, mayor of birmingham , later mp, , son neville chamberlain, lord mayor of birmingham , later british prime minister, 2 of well-known political figures have lived in birmingham. city established own university in 1900.








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