Overton, Richard

Overton, Richard

▪ British pamphleteer and rebel
flourished 1631–64

      English pamphleteer and a Leveler leader during the English Civil Wars and Commonwealth.

      The details of Overton's early life are obscure, though he probably lived in Holland and studied at Queens' College, Cambridge, before becoming a professional actor and playwright in Southwark. In 1640 he became a political activist, writing some 50 tracts attacking the Church of England, monopolies, the Earl of Strafford (Charles I's controversial adviser), and civil law. In Man's Mortality (1643), he argued that the soul as well as the body dies and must be resurrected. His tracts of 1645–46, published under the pseudonym Martin Marpriest, castigated the Presbyterians and the Westminster Assembly of Divines for their intolerance. In a series of 40 tracts published between 1645 and 1649 and 20 editorials in the Leveler newspaper, The Moderate (1648–49), he enunciated his radical political theory, with its key ideas of popular sovereignty, the equality of all men under natural law, republican government, and the social contract as the foundation of government and society. He also demanded major social and legal reforms, including the abolition of mandatory tithes, the return of enclosed lands to communal use, and university reform.

      Within the Leveler movement, of which he was a key leader, Overton worked as a theorist, a journalist, and a political organizer. He was especially effective with the use of mass petitions espousing the Leveler cause. For his efforts he was imprisoned in Newgate (1646–47) and the Tower of London (1649). By the time of his release in November 1649, the government had suppressed the Leveler movement, but in 1654 Overton was still trying to create an alliance of Levelers, army republicans, and Royalists to topple Oliver Cromwell. Although Overton had to flee to the Continent, he was back and plotting again by 1656. He apparently continued to support republican causes into the early 1660s, after which nothing is known of him.

Additional Reading
Joseph Frank, The Levellers: A History of the Writings of Three Seventeenth-Century Social Democrats: John Lilburne, Richard Overton, William Walwyn (1955, reprinted 1969).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Overton — may refer to: People Constantine Overton David M. Overton Doug Overton Edward Overton, Jr. (1836 1903), United States representative from Pennsylvania Elli Overton Frank Overton Guy Overton Hall Overton Iain Overton John Overton (judge) (1766… …   Wikipedia

  • OVERTON (R.) — OVERTON RICHARD (connu entre 1640 et 1663) Pamphlétaire anabaptiste anglais dont les premiers tracts et satires parurent vers 1640. Attiré par les questions théologiques, Richard Overton publie Man’s Mortality (1643), où il développe une doctrine …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Overton Park — may also refer to the U.S. Supreme Court case, Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe Overton Park Historic District U.S. National Register of Historic Places …   Wikipedia

  • Richard Overton — (c. 1599 1664) was an English pamphleteer and Leveller during the Civil War. Little is known of the early life of Overton, but he is believed to have matriculated at Queens College, Cambridge, before working as an actor and playwright in… …   Wikipedia

  • Overton Loyd — is an artist best known for creating the cover art for the Parliament album Motor Booty Affair. His style of art varies often from work to work, and can range from loose sketches and paintings to fully fleshed out pieces. He is a friend of George …   Wikipedia

  • Richard H. Baker — Richard Baker Richard Hugh Baker (* 22. Mai 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana) ist ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1987 und 2008 vertrat er den Bundesstaat Louisiana im US Repräsentantenhaus …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Richard Alvin Tonry — (* 25. Juni 1935 in New Orleans, Louisiana) ist ein ehemaliger US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen Januar und Mai 1977 vertrat er den Bundesstaat Louisiana im US Repräsentantenhaus. Werdegang Richard Tonry besuchte einige katholische Schulen in …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Richard Dumas (joueur de basket-ball) — Richard Wayne Dumas (né le 19 mai 1969 à Tulsa, Oklahoma) est un ancien joueur américain de basket ball. Sa carrière NBA fut écourtée à cause de l usage de drogue. Dumas mesure 2,01 mètres et évoluait au poste d ailier. Dumas fait sa carrière… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Richard O'Donnell (playwright) — Infobox actor imagesize = 150px bgcolour = name = Richard “R.” O Donnell birthdate = birth date and age|1956|6|17 location = Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania occupation = Actor, Producer, Writer and Stand up ComicRichard O Donnell (born June 17, 1956 in… …   Wikipedia

  • Rick Overton — Richard Overton (* 10. August 1954 in Queens, New York City, USA) ist ein US amerikanischer Schauspieler und Drehbuchautor. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Filmografie (Auszug) 3 Auszeich …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”