John Malcolm Forbes Ludlow, a little known contributor to the cause of the British working man in the 19th century

Abstract

It was John Malcolm Forbes Ludlow (1821-1911) who conceived of English Christian Socialism and convinced many contemporaries of its value. He was responsible for establishing the Christian Socialist producer co-operatives of 1849-50 in accordance with ideas gained in France from the socialism of Louis Blanc and Benjamin Buchez. With F. D. Maurice, John Ludlow shares the credit for founding a college for the education of working men (still in existence as the Working Men's College of London). As a lawyer, Ludlow acted as constant legal advisor to the great 19th century organizations of self-help: labor unions, friendly societies, and co-operatives. [TRUNCATED]