Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of

(1801–85)

   Philanthropist.

   Shaftesbury was educated at the University of Oxford and he subsequently entered Parliament. He was of an aristocratic family and was a nephew of Lord Palmerston, who served several terms as Prime Minister. He is remembered as a notable social reformer. Among his many achievements was the Ten Hour Act of 1847 (which limited working hours in a factory to ten hours a day), the establishment of a permanent Lunacy Commission, acts regulating child and female labour, the Factory Act of 1874 and the Chimney Boys’ Act of 1875. His philanthropy was largely inspired by his devout evangelical faith. He was president of the British and Foreign Bible Society and an enthusiastic supporter of the Church Missionary Society, the Church Pastoral Aid Society and the London City Mission.

   G.F.A. Best, Shaftesbury (1964);

   G.B.A.M. Finlayson, The Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury (1981);

   J. Pollock, Shaftesbury: The Poor Man’s Earl (1985).