Salesman Richard Cobden wondered why his employers left a full warehouse in his hands without any kind of security.

Travelling salesman Richard Cobden was still in his twenties when he bought a loss-making mill for a hundred times his annual salary.

Richard Cobden wondered how the architects of the British Empire had the nerve to accuse Russia of imperialism.

American journalist and poet WC Bryant numbered Richard Cobden MP among the world’s statesmen, not our politicians.

Richard Cobden deplored the way that politicians in Britain justified their wars abroad by portraying other countries as barbarous and backward.

Richard Cobden wanted to know why British policy towards China was so different to our policy towards the USA and European powers.