"But Everyone Thought That Back Then": Edward and Catherine Despard [Long Shorts]

Imagine the strength it must have took to help with that gallows speech, to know you were writing your husband's final words. I can barely imagine.

I am a historian in the US and we find this occasionally! I noticed my own white Congregationalist great grandfather, a pastor, popping up helping out at the AME church, doing clerical work for the WCTU, hanging with the miners, teaching integrated classrooms, etc... I was told he was great because of his faith and that he never drank alcohol. My family tried to cover up a real egalitarian! Im honoring him by spotlighting research on the people he was friends with, who were in the thick of their own movements.

"A friend to the poor and the oppressed" I mean, across all of human history that has often been a pretty serious crime unfortunately.

I can see why we weren't taught about them in school. Thanks for shining a light on hidden parts of our history.

Do we know what happened to Catherine after his death, or is that lost to history? I cant imagine being the black widow of a unpopular radical was a safe or happy time. I hope she was okay

I think we can all see why it took people so long to think a bit more like him.

“The wild and leveling principle of universal equality”— we could use a bit of that these days!

“I’m afraid there’s no picture of Catherine.” Figures.

As always the contradiction between doing the right thing and the socially (enforced) correct thing. That clash happens even today.

So that's what it's like to have the biggest balls ever. I see.

I do like the portrayal of the Despards in the final season of Poldark. Not totally historically accurate but still very good. It’s what made me look into the subject more in the first place

He lived a hero, and died a hero with his dying words.

Seriously Netflix needs to get on this story ASAP!

There have always been people who sought a better world. From the first kings to now there's always someone who knows that what society is doing is wrong, and "be excellent unto each other" is the entire point of being social creatures to begin with.

What a terrible time to be alive- being friendly to the poors and wanting to change the status quo got you imprisoned/executed.

Pedro the Second of Brazil was also incredibly progressive and spent his life ending the slave trade around 1850 ^^ lots of amazing historical figures to shed light on

May God reward him for his just qualities

Considering this, it's a miracle we've come this far today.

When you phrase it as “Principle of Universal Equality” it does sound pretty wild and levelling to be fair.

Moral of the story: Not everyone thought that way back then. But the ones who did had a much better life expectancy.