Joseph Parkes (1796-1865) played a critical role in the political reform movements and electoral changes of the mid-nineteenth century in England. Parkes worked as a lawyer specializing in election cases in Birmingham and served as an advisor to several Whig candidates during the height of the reform period in England. Parkes campaigned actively for parliamentary reform, writing frequent articles in national newspapers between 1830 and 1832. After the passage of the Reform Act in 1832, Parkes continued to advise Whig party candidates in general elections and to push for additional election reform. He spearheaded a national registration campaign in the 1840s, and following his retirement from legal and political work in 1847, Parkes continued to publish political pamphlets in papers such as The Times and Birmingham Journal.

Parkes married Elizabeth Rayner Priestley, the eldest daughter of Joseph Priestley, in 1824, and their daughter, Elizabeth Rayner (Bessie) Parkes became a strong advocate for women's issues in the nineteenth century. Bessie Parkes was also the mother of British writer Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953).

Source:

Salmon, Philip J. "Parkes, Joseph (1796-1865)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford UP, 2004. [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/21356, accessed 13 June 2007]

British politician Edward John Stanley (1802-1869) entered parliament as a Whig in the last unreformed election of 1831. He served as under-secretary to the colonies from 1833-1834, and was appointed secretary to the Treasury in 1835. As a Whig candidate, Stanley forged a strong relationship with Joseph Parkes. The two men corresponded frequently during their political careers. In 1836, Stanley joined with Parkes to establish a Reform Club in order to "humanize the Radicals and liberalize the Whigs" (Parkes to Lord Palmerston, 12 February 1836, quoted in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography). Stanley ended his career as postmaster-general, a position he held until 1866.

Source:

Newbould, Ian. "Stanley, Edward John, second Baron Stanley of Alderley and first Baron Eddisbury (1802-1869)" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford UP, 2004. [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26267, accessed 13 June 2007]