National Reformer
The National Reformer was a secularist weekly publication in 19th century Britain, noted for providing a longstanding "strong, radical voice" in its time, advocating Atheism.History
The journal was established in Sheffield in 1860, as an initiative by the Sheffield Secularists, on a prospectus describing its policy as "Atheistic in theology, Republican in politics, and Malthusian in social economy". Charles Bradlaugh was co-editor and periodically edited the journal through to 1890. Leading booksellers refused to stock it.
In 1868 the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue acted against the National Reformer under the 1819 Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Act. Bradlaugh and John Stuart Mill campaigned to have the Act repealed and the case was allowed to fall. The following year, the 1819 Act was repealed.
Annie Besant became associated with the National Reformer in 1874 and co-edited until 1887. Bradlaugh and Besant were prosecuted in 1877 for publications advocating birth control. In 1893 the journal ceased publication.
