Profile Major Works Resources

Sidney Webb and Beatrice Potter Webb

Sidney Webb Beatrice Webb

Sidney Webb and his wife Beatrice Potter Webb were Victorian socialist activists, leaders of the Fabian Society and, later, the British Labour Party.

Sidney Webb and Beatrice Potter met  in activist circles in London, and were married in 1892.  They became co-writers and collaborators in a myriad of social reform movements. 

Originating from a wealthy Liverpool family, Beatrice Potter had been previously engaged to protectionist-imperialist politician Joseph Chamberlain.  She was also briefly the target of F.Y. Edgeworth's one and only attempt at courtship (the "tiresome little professor", as she called him, got nowhere).  Sidney came from humbler London roots.  He had joined the Fabian Society in 1885, brought in by journalist friend George Bernard Shaw, and contributed a series of famous informative tracts distributed by the Fabians, notably the famous Facts for Socialists in 1887.  Beatrice had taken an interest in working class conditions in the course of helping research her cousin Charles Booth's 1889-90 study on the poor, and published a work of her own on the Lancashire cooperative movements in 1891.   Hoping to follow it up with research on labor unions, Beatrice sought out Sidney, who was a said to be an expert on them. They married in 1892, and became frequent co-authors thereafter.

Although less in public eye than her husband Sidney, Beatrice was nonetheless heavily active in the actual conduct of their policies. In her Minority Report to the 1909 Commission on the Poor Laws, Potter conjured up one of the first charters for a comprehensive social security scheme (i.e. state pensions) and a wider welfare state that was to emerge later in Europe and North America. 

 The Webbs founded the London School of Economics in 1895 and the New Statesmen in 1913.  

 

  

top1.gif (924 bytes)Top

Major Works of Sidney Webb and Beatrice Potter Webb

  • Sidney James Webb, 1859-1947 (by himself)
    • A Plea for the Taxation of Ground Rents, 1887 [av]
    • Facts for Socialists, from political economists and statisticians, (Fabian No.5) 1887 [bk, hth]  [1891 2nd ed, lse; 1892 5th ed, lse; 1893 6th ed. lse; 1895 7th ed lse; 1899 8th ed. lse; 1904 9th ed lse; 1908 11th ed. lse; 1915 12th ed. lse; 1926 13th ed, lse] [repr 1908, Basis and Policy of Socialism, p.5, av]
    • "The Rate of Interest and the Laws of Distribution", 1887, QJE (Oct), p.188-208 [js] [offpr] (critique of F.A. Walker)
    • "The Rate of Interest", 1888, QJE (Jul), p.469-72 [js] [av] (again vs Walker)
    • "The Basis of Socialism - Historic", 1889, in G.B. Shaw, et al. Fabian Essays in Socialism, p.30 [av] [1920 ed, p.30]
    • "Socialism in England", 1889, Pub AEA (Apr) p.71-143 [js][av] [offprint:  Socialism in England: 1889 bk; 1890, av, 1893 2nd ed]
    • Facts for Londoners (Fabian 8), 1889 [lse]
    • An Eight Hours Bill, in the form of an amendment of the Factory Acts, with further provisions for the improvement of the conditions of labour (Fabian 9), 1889 [lse] [1890 ed lse]
    • Figures for Londoners (Fabian 10), 1889 [lse]
    • The Workers' Political Programme (Fabian 11), 1890 [lse] [1891 ed lse]
    • Practicable Land Nationalization, (Fabian 12), 1890 [lse] [1894 ed, lse]
    • English Progress towards Social Democracy (Fabian 15), 1890 [lse] [1893 ed lse]
    • The Reform of the Poor Law (Fabian 17), 1891 [lse]
    • A Plea for an Eight Hours Bill (Fabian 18), 1890 [lse]
    • What the Farm Labourer Wants (Fabian 19), 1890 [lse] [1893 2nd ed, lse; 1894 3rd ed, lse]
    • The Truth About Leasehold Enfranchisement (Fabian 22), 1890 [lse]
    • The Progress of Socialism, 1890 [av]
    • The best method of bringing co-operation within the reach of the poorest of the population, 1891 [av]
    • "An English 'Poor Law Reform Association'", 1891, QJE (Apr), p.370-72 [js], [av]
    • The London Programme, 1891 [bk, av]
    • The Eight Hours Day, with Harold Cox, 1891 [av, av]
    • The Case for an Eight Hours Bill (Fabian 23), 1891 [lse]
    • Questions for Parliamentary Candidates (Fabian 24), 1891 [lse] [1894 2nd ed, lse; 1900 3rd ed, lse]
    • Questions for School Board Candidates (Fabian 25), 1891 [lse] [1894 2nd ed, lse],
    • Questions for London county councillors (Fabian 26), 1891 [lse]
    • The 'Unearned Increment' (Fabian 30), 1891 [lse] [1895 ed lse]
    • London's Heritage in the City Guilds (Fabian 31), 1891 [lse] [1898 2nd ed, lse]
    • The Municipilisation of the Gas Supply (Fabian 32), 1891 [lse] [1893 2nd ed, lse, 1896, 3rd ed lse]
    • Municipal Tramways (Fabian 33), 1891 [lse], [1895 2nd ed, lse; 1898 3rd ed, lse]
    • London's Water Tribute (Fabian 34), 1891 [lse], [1898, 2nd ed, lse]
    • The Municipilisation of the London Docks (Fabian 35), 1891 [lse]
    • The Scandal of London Markets (Fabian 36), 1891 [lse]
    • A Labour Policy for Public Authorities (Fabian 37), 1891 [lse] [1895 2nd ed, lse]
    • "The Difficulties of Individualism", 1891, EJ  [1896 ed as Fabian 69 [lse]; repr. in 1908, Socialism and Individualism p.5; av]
    • Socialism, True and False (Fabian 51) 1894 [lse] [repr. in 1908, The Basis and Policy of Socialism, p.50
    • The London vestries: what they are and what they do (Fabian 60), 1894 [lse]
    • "La réglementation de l'industrie en vue de l'abolition du 'Sweating'", 1894, Congres international d'Anvers [av]
    • "Discussions: Moral Aspects of Socialism", 1896, IJ Ethics, [av]
    • Labour in the Longest Reign, 1837-1897 (Fabian 75), 1897, [av, lse]
    • The Economics of Direct Employment, with an account of the fair wage policy (Fabian 84), 1898 [lse] [1900 2nd ed, 1900, lse]
    • Five years' fruits of the Parish Councils Act (Fabian 106), 1901 [lse] [1901 2nd ed. re-titled The Education Muddle and the Way Out: a constructive criticism of English educational machinery, bk, lse]
    • Twentieth century politics: a policy of national efficiency (Fabian 108), 1901 [lse]
    • The Education Act, 1902: How to make the best of it (Fabian 114), 1903 [lse]
    • The London Education Act, 1903: How to make the best of it (Fabian 117), 1904 [lse]
    • London Education, 1904 [bk, av]
    • "Physical Degeneracy, or Race Suicide?", 1906, The Times (Oct 11 & Oct 16) [repr. in 1906, Popular Science Monthly, (Dec), p.512]
    • The Decline in the Birth Rate (Fabian 131), 1907 [hth, lse]
    • Paupers and Old Age Pensions (Fabian 135), 1907 [bk, av, lse]
    • Parish Councils and Village Life (Fabian 137) 1908 [bk, hth, lse]
    • Editor, The Basis and Policy of Socialism, 1908 [bk, av]
    • "Preface", 1909, in F. Isabel Taylor, Bibliography of Unemployment and the Unemployed, p.v [av]
    • "Problem of Unemployment in the United Kingdom", AAPSS [av]
    • "The Prevention of Unemployment", 1910, The Crusade [av]
    • The Necessary Basis for Society (Fabian 159), 1911 [lse]
    • Grants in Aid: A criticism and a proposal, 1911 [bk, av], [1920 new ed, av]
    • How the Government can Prevent Unemployment, 1912 [av]
    • "Preface", 1912, in S. Webb and A. Freeman, editors, Seasonal Trades, p.v [av]
    • "Economic Theory of a Legal Minimum Wage", 1912, JPE (Dec) [av]
    • What About the Rates? or, Municipal finance and municipal autonomy (Fabian 172), 1913 [lse]
    • "The National Insurance Act at Work: what it is effecting, and where it needs amending", 1913, The Crusade, [av]
    • "Preface", 1914, in R. Jones, The Nature and First Principle of Taxation, p.xiii [av]
    • The War and the Workers: handbook of some immediate measures to prevent unemployment and relieve distress (Fabian 176), 1914 [hth, lse]
    • "The Contribution of Industry to Revenue", 1916, The Reorganization of Industry. p.43 [av]
    • "Preface", 1915, in J. Matthai, Village Government in British India, p.ix [av]
    • Towards Social Democracy? A study of social evolution during the past three-quarters of a century, 1916 [av]
    • Great Britain after the War, with A. Freeman, 1916 [bk, av]
    • When Peace Comes: The way of industrial reconstruction (Fabian 181), 1916 [lse]
    • The Reform of the House of Lord (Fabian 183), 1917 [hth, lse]
    • (Editor), How to Pay for the War, being ideas offered to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Fabian research department, 1917 [av]
    • The Restoration of Trade Union Conditions, 1917 [bk, av]
    • The Works Manager To-day: an address, 1917 [bk] [1918 av]
    • "Conscience and the Conscientious Objector", 1917, NAR (Mar), p.403 [js] [av]
    • "British Labor under War Pressure", 1917, NAR (Jun), p.874 [js] [av]
    • "The World's Trade After the War", 1917, NAR (Oct), p.575 [js] [av]
    • The Teacher in Politics (Fabian 187), 1918 [lse]
    • National Finance and a Levy on Capital: What Labour intends.(Fabian 188), 1919 [hth, lse]
    • "Introduction", 1920, in new edition of Fabian Essays on Socialism, p.iii
    • The Root of Labour Unrest (Fabian 196), 1920 [lse]
    • The Story of the Durham Miners (1662-1921), 1921 [av]
    • The Constitutional Problem of a Cooperative Society (Fabian 202), 1922 [lse]
    • The Need for Federal Reorganization in the Co-operative Movement (Fabian, 203), 1923 [lse]
    • The Labour Party on the Threshold, (Fabian 207) 1923 [lse]
    • The Local Government Act, 1929 - How to make the best of it. (Fabian 231) 1929 [lse]
    • What Happened in 1931 - A record (Fabian 237) 1931 [lse]
  • Beatrice Potter Webb, 1858-1943 (by herself)
    • The Cooperative Movement in Great Britain, 1891 [bk] [1893, 2nd ed., av; 1895 3rd ed; 1899 4th ed], [reprints: 1920, av]
    • Women and the Factory Acts (Fabian 67), 1896 [lse]
    • "The Economics of Factory Legislation", 1901, in B. Webb, editor,  The Case for the Factory Acts, 1901 [av] [1902 2nd ed; av]
    • The Poor Law Medical Officer and his Future, 1909 [hth]
    • Wages of Men and Women: Should they be equal?, 1919 [hth]
    • My Apprenticeship, 1926.
    • "The New Civilization", 1942 in S. & B. Webb, The Truth About Soviet Russia, p.15 [av]
    • A New Reform Bill (Fabian 236), 1931 [lse]
    • Our Partnership, 1948.
  • Sidney Webb and Beatrice Potter (as co-authors):
    • The History of Trade Unionism, 1894 [bk] [1896 2nd ed], [1902 ed, av], [1907 ed, av], [1911 ed, av] [1920 new ed, av]
    • Industrial Democracy, 1897 (2 vols), v.1, v.2  [av1, av2] [1902 single vol. ed, av] [1911 ed], [1920 new ed, av]
    • Problems of Modern Industry, 1898 [bk, av] [1902 ed], [1920 new ed, av]
    • "What Happened to the English Parish?", 1902, PSQ, Pt.1, Pt.2 [av2]
    • The History of Liquor Licensing in England, principally from 1700 to 1830, 1903 [bk, av] [repr. 1963, ELG, v.11]
    • English Local Government from the Revolution to the Municipal Corporations Act: The Parish and the County, 1906 [bk, av] [repr 1963 ELG, v.1,  av]
    • English Local Government from the Revolution to the Municipal Corporations Act: The Manor and the Borough, Part 1, 1908 [bk, av], [repr 1963, ELG, v.2]
    • English Local Government from the Revolution to the Municipal Corporations Act: The Manor and the Borough, Part 1I, 1908 [bk, av],  [repr 1963, ELG, v.3]
    • (Editors), Minority Report of the Poor Law Commission,  [av1, av2]
      • Part 1 - The Break-up of the Poor Law, 1909 [bk, av]
      • Part 2 - The Public Organisation of the Labour Market, 1909 [bk, av]
    • English Poor-Law Policy, 1910 [bk, av], [repr. 1963, ELG, v.10]
    • The State and the Doctor, 1910 [bk, av]
    • The Prevention of Destitution, 1911 [bk, av], [1916 ed, av] [1920 ed]
    • English Local Government: The Story of the King's Highway, 1913 [bk, av], [repr. 1963, ELG, v.5]
    • The Cooperative Movement, 1914.
    • The Principles of the Labour Party, 1919? [av]
    • A Constitution for the Socialist Commonwealth of Great Britain, 1920 [bk, av]
    • The Consumer's Cooperative Movement, 1921. [bk, av]
    • English Local Government: Statutory Authority for Special Purposes, 1922 [bk, av], [repr. 1963, ELG, v.4]
    • English Prisons under Local Government, 1922 [bk, av], [repr. 1963, ELG, v.6]
    • Decay of Capitalist Civilization, 1923. [1923 3rd ed, av]
    • English Local Government: English Poor Laws, Part I - The Old Poor Law, 1927 [av], [repr. 1963, ELG, v.7]
    • English Local Government: English Poor Laws, Part II - The Last Hundred Years, 1929, 2 vols  [av1, av2] [repr. 1963, ELG, v.8 & v.9]
    • Methods of Social Study, 1932 [av]
    • Soviet Communism: A new civilization?, 1935, 2 vols [av1, av2] [1936 single vol. reprint: av], .[1937 2nd ed] [1944, 3rd ed. ed, [av]] 
    • The Truth About Soviet Russia, 1942 [av]
    • English Local Government, 1963 (new edition, 11 vols)

 
HET

 
top1.gif (924 bytes)Top

Resources on the Webbs

  • "Review of S. Webb & Cox's Eight Hour Day" by G. Graham, 1891, PSQ (Dec), p.751 [js]
  • "Review of  B. and S. Webb's English Poor Law Policy" by Jeffrey R. Brackett, 1911, AER 
  • "Review of S. Webb's Grants in Aid: A Criticism and a Proposal" by  Jeffrey R. Brackett, 1912, AER
  • "Review of S. Webb and A. Freeman's Seasonal Trades" by Susan M. Kingsbury, 1913, AER
  • "Review of S. Webb's Restoration of Trade Union Conditions" by G.E.B., 1918, AER
  • "Review of the S. and B. Webb's History of Trade Unionism", by John R. Commons, 1920, AER 
  • "The Webbs' Constitution for the Socialist Commonwealth", by John R. Commons, 1921, AER
  • "The Webbs" by George Bernard Shaw, in S. & B. Webb, 1942, The Truth About Soviet Russia, p.5 [av]
  • "Webbs on the Web" website at LSE
  • Sidney and Beatrice at Spartacus
  • Sidney & Beatrice Webb entry at New World Encycl
  • Sidney & Beatrice Webb entry at IESS (encyclopedia.com)
  • Sidney & Beatrice Webb entry at Britannica
  • Webb Memorial Trust [website]
  • "Beatrice Webb: her quest for a fairer society", by M. Ward [pdf]
  • Sidney Webb and Beatrice Webb at Wikipedia

 

 
top1.gif (924 bytes)Top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All rights reserved, Gonçalo L. Fonseca