Abstract
Huskisson is better remembered for the manner of his death than for his not inconsiderable achievements as a statesman and economist. While it is true that he enjoyed ‘little success in public life compared with that which his rare abilities should have commanded’ (Dictionary of National Biography), there were few major debates which were not enhanced by his contribution. Huskisson first entered Parliament in 1796 and remained a member, with only one short break, for over 30 years. He served in the cabinet from 1823, and held a number of key government posts, including Secretary of the Treasury, President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. He figured prominently in the Bullion controversy and the subsequent discussion on the resumption of cash payments; and he initiated the process of tariff reform which was to culminate in the repeal of the Corn Laws.
This chapter was originally published in The New Palgrave: A Dictionary of Economics, 1st edition, 1987. Edited by John Eatwell, Murray Milgate and Peter Newman
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Fay, C.R. 1951. Huskisson and his age. London: Longmans.
Fetter, F.W. 1965. Development of British monetary orthodoxy, 1797–1875. Reprinted, Fairfield: Kelley, 1978.
Marx, K. 1867. Capital, vol. 1. Moscow: Progress Publishers.
Melville, L. 1931. The Huskisson papers. London: Constable.
Ricardo, D. 1951–1973. In The works and correspondence of David Ricardo, ed. P. Sraffa. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tooke, T. 1838–1857. A history of prices, and of the state of circulation, from 1792 to 1856. London: P.S. King, 1928.
Viner, J. 1937. Studies in the theory of international trade. London: George Allen & Unwin.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1987 The Author(s)
About this entry
Cite this entry
Green, R. (1987). Huskisson, William (1770–1830). In: Durlauf, S., Blume, L. (eds) The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_8-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95121-5_8-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-95121-5
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Economics and FinanceReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences