Feargus O'Connor and the Northern Star

Abstract

The first edition of theNorthern Star and Leeds General Advertiserwas published on November 18th, 1837, with Feargus O'Connor as proprietor, Joshua Hobson as printer and publisher, and the Rev. William Hill as editor. Its price was 4½d. Together with the platform theNorthern Starprovided the essential medium of national communication and organization for the Chartist movement. TheStarwas the most important agency for the integration and transformation of disparate local radical agitation and organization into the national Chartist movement. Throughout the Chartist period theStargave local working-class protest a national focus. It brought national perspective to the localities and gave local radicalism national coverage.