Richard Cobden despaired at British statesmen using the peerless Royal Navy merely to strangle trade in other countries.

Young inventor James Watt’s life in London was overshadowed by the perpetual fear of being snatched.

Richard Cobden saw Britain’s international standing in terms of peaceful trade rather than military interventions.

Emmeline Pankhurst recalls how she brought some much-needed reason into the operations at Chorlton workhouse.

William Pitt complained that European politics offers only a choice of inhospitable extremes.

The Great War emerged from Germany’s attempt to force unity and purpose onto Europe.