Cobbetts keep it in the family
Date published: 21 August 2008
The great, great grandson of Oldham’s first MP has followed in the footsteps of his famous ancestor and become an author.
But while William Cobbett, MP from 1832 to 1835, was known for his radical and libellous publications, today’s William Miles Cobbett has chosen a gentler style.
Mr Cobbett, who lives in Alaska, in the US, has written “Champion” about a happy-go-lucky, pipeline-building Alaskan labourer.
It is designed to hook children into reading, and is now available worldwide thanks to the Amazon internet site.
Mr Cobbett’s parents Vera and Bryan were Londoners who emigrated to America in 1949. His mother, now 94, lives in California.
But it was his famous ancestor who inspired him to write.
William Cobbett became Oldham’s MP after the great Reform Act created the town’s first constituency in 1832.
He launched his own newspaper, in 1802, the weekly Political Register, which continued until his death, despite two years in Newgate prison for libel.
At the third attempt, Cobbett finally succeeded in becoming an MP. But his health was failing and he died three years later.
Mr Cobbett said: ”My interest in writing began when I was a teenager, after some college studies in the library that included the life and writings of William Cobbett. I declared to myself that I would be a writer at age 23.”
But the need to make a living delayed that, he said.
He now lives on a six-acre farm, at 1700ft, and feels he is following Cobbett’s cottage economy ideals.
He added: “I have tried my best to keep away from political writing, and mostly write fiction novels and short stories. “I’m very proud to carry on William Cobbett’s name, and have read his work,” he said.
“He was very political, very radical and he believed in the rights of the poor man.
“It is my dream to go to England and try and trace Cobbett’s steps.”
Apart from the name, Miles Cobbett also owns a precious memento of his ancestor, his gold pocket watch. He said: “It has been handed down the generations and is beautiful.”ovement, made of gold with a gold chain and an ivory face and it is very beautiful.
