Unitarian Radicalism: Political Impact, 1770-1814

The Unitarian confrontation with the late 18th century political establishment is reflected in published sermons, pamphlets, and parliamentary debates. Price and Priestley were only the most notorious members of a well-educated, close-knit, and highly articulate intellectual opposition, all the more formidable for dominating the major literary reviews. Focusing on many lesser-known dissenting polemicists, this study uncovers unexpected continuities in Unitarian critiques of government policies and questions whether Burke was justified in equating antitrinitarians with French republicans.