29 Facts About Auberon Herbert

Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert was an English writer, theorist, philosopher, and 19th century individualist.

Auberon Herbert was a son of the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon.

Auberon Herbert was Liberal Member of Parliament for the two-member constituency of Nottingham from 1870 to 1874.

Auberon Herbert promoted a classical liberal philosophy and took the ideas of Herbert Spencer a stage further by advocating voluntary-funded government that uses force only in defence of individual liberty and private property.

Auberon Herbert was the third son of the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon, and brother of Henry Herbert, the 4th Earl.

Auberon Herbert was educated at Eton College, entering the school in 1850.

Auberon Herbert left school early, having been elected to a founder's kin fellowship at St John's College, Oxford in 1855.

Auberon Herbert gained a second class in Classical Moderations in 1857.

Auberon Herbert then resumed his career at Oxford, where he was President of the Union in Hilary Term 1862; he graduated BCL.

Auberon Herbert lectured in history and jurisprudence at St John's College, and resigned his fellowship in 1869.

Auberon Herbert went to the United States during the American Civil War, and he witnessed the Siege of Richmond.

Auberon Herbert was outside Paris during the Siege of Paris, and was one of the first to enter the city after the capitulation, being nearly shot as a spy on his way in.

Auberon Herbert remained there during the Paris Commune in the company of his second brother, Alan Herbert, who practised medicine in Paris.

Auberon Herbert stood as a Conservative candidate for Newport in the 1865 general election but was defeated.

Auberon Herbert held the post of private secretary to Stafford Northcote, the President of the Board of Trade from 1866 to 1868.

Auberon Herbert stood as a Liberal candidate for Berkshire in the 1868 election but lost.

Auberon Herbert served as President of the fourth day of the first ever Co-operative Congress in 1869.

Auberon Herbert took a leading part in the passing of the Protection of Wild Birds Act 1872.

Auberon Herbert was an ardent supporter of Joseph Arch and spoke at the mass meeting at Leamington on Good Friday 1872, when the National Agricultural Labourers' Union was formed.

Auberon Herbert retired from parliamentary life at the 1874 general election.

Auberon Herbert took an active part in the agitation caused by the Bulgarian atrocities; organised in 1878 the great 'anti-Jingo' demonstration in Hyde Park against the expected war with Russia; and in 1880 championed the cause of Charles Bradlaugh, speaking at some of the stormy Hyde Park meetings.

Auberon Herbert was an ardent but independent supporter of Herbert Spencer.

Auberon Herbert's creed developed a variant of Spencerian individualism which he described as 'voluntaryism'.

In 1884 Auberon Herbert published his best-known book, A Politician in Trouble about his Soul, a reprint with alterations and additions from The Fortnightly Review.

Auberon Herbert then moved to the neighbourhood of Burley in the New Forest, and built, after a pre-existing building, 'The Old House,' which was his home until his death on 5 November 1906.

Auberon Herbert was buried in a grave in the grounds of his house.

Auberon Herbert was a true anarchist in everything but name.

Auberon Herbert argued that Herbert's support for exclusive private property would result in the poor being enslaved to the rich.

In 1871 Auberon Herbert married Lady Florence Amabel, daughter of George Cowper, 6th Earl Cowper.