Lord Shaftesbury

A carte-de-visite portrait of Anthony Ashley Cooper (1801-1885), from 1851 the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. Styled Lord Ashley from 1811 to 1851, he was an English politician and philanthropist, one of the best-known of the Victorian era.

Born in London, he was educated at Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford. He entered Parliament as a Tory in 1826 and almost immediately became a leader of the movement for factory reform. He was largely responsible for the Factory Acts of 1847 and 1853, as well as the Coal Mines Act of 1842 and the Lunacy Act of 1845. One of his chief interests was the welfare of children and he was chairman of the Ragged Schools Union. He was also an enthusiastic and loyal supporter of Florence Nightingale.

He married Lady Emily Caroline Catherine Frances Cowper, daughter of Peter Cowper, 5th Earl Cowper, on 10 June 1830. They had ten children.

Photographed by Maull and Co of London.