The Turbulent Quaker of Shaftesbury, John Rutter 1796-1851

Mon 21 October 2019

Churchill College

John Stuttard's book on John Rutter, 'The Turbulent Quaker of Shaftesbury', was published in 2018. In this talk he will discuss Rutter - Author, Printer, Publisher, Social and Political Reformer, Public Servant, Philanthropist and Lawyer.

John Rutter was a man of many talents and achievements, a polymath who lived in Shaftesbury, North Dorset, at a time of great change in our society. An accomplished writer, he printed and published some fine books, and his masterpiece, 'Delineations of Fonthill and its Abbey', William Beckford’s cathedral-like mansion, stands out as one of the great architectural publications of the early 19th century. If he had done nothing else in his life than publish 'Delineations' he would be lauded today for this single accomplishment. But Rutter did much more than this. Driven and inspired by his Quaker upbringing, with a belief in equality and fairness, he engaged in political reform in the ‘pocket borough’ of Shaftesbury and he fought against nepotism and corruption in the local borough. For this he was hounded, fined and considered ‘turbulent’. But his actions contributed to the major reforms introduced by successive Whig governments of the 1830s.

Cost: Free