Westminster Review
A British quarterly review founded as the principal publication of the Philosophical Radicals.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Westminster Review was a British intellectual and political periodical associated with utilitarianism, liberal reform, free thought, scientific naturalism, and the Philosophical Radical movement. Jeremy Bentham had considered creating a journal capable of advancing radical political and social ideas for many years, and the publication was established in 1823 with financial backing from Bentham and support from figures around the Benthamite circle. Its first issue appeared in January 1824. The review positioned itself against the established Edinburgh Review, which it criticized as too closely aligned with Whig politics and aristocratic interests. James Mill contributed a prominent article to the first issue, while his son John Stuart Mill continued the argument in the second, helping establish the new periodical as a deliberately interventionist voice rather than a neutral literary review. The journal initially achieved a circulation of approximately 3,000 copies, a significant audience for a new political review, but its income did not cover its costs. When its original funding was exhausted in 1828, the publication changed ownership and no longer operated consistently as an organ of the Philosophical Radicals. A new radical review, the London Review, was later funded by Sir William Molesworth. Molesworth acquired the Westminster Review and merged the two publications. From April 1836 to March 1840 the combined journal appeared as the London and Westminster Review. It subsequently returned to the Westminster Review title, with William Edward Hickson taking over editorial responsibility from John Stuart Mill. The review remained an important venue for political, philosophical, literary, and scientific discussion despite continuing financial difficulties. In 1851 it was acquired by publisher John Chapman, whose London premises became a meeting place for writers, reformers, scientists, and freethinkers. Mary Ann Evans, later known as George Eliot, worked as assistant editor and helped articulate the publication's commitment to progress, social improvement, intellectual inquiry, and the advancement of talent. Contributors and associates during this period included John Stuart Mill, Harriet Martineau, Francis Newman, W. R. Greg, Herbert Spencer, William Benjamin Carpenter, Robert Chambers, George J. Holyoake, Thomas Huxley, and John Tyndall. The Westminster Review played a notable role in circulating evolutionary and scientific ideas. John Oxenford's anonymous discussion of German philosophy helped stimulate English interest in Arthur Schopenhauer. Herbert Spencer contributed on population theory, while Huxley and Tyndall developed the review's science coverage. In April 1860, Huxley's review of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species used the word "Darwinism" in print and presented Darwin's work as a powerful resource for liberal intellectual culture, even while expressing reservations about aspects of natural selection and gradualism. The periodical also published arguments concerning socialism, poverty, religion, education, women's rights, and social reform, including an 1886 essay by Edward Aveling and Eleanor Marx on the woman question. The journal absorbed the Foreign Quarterly Review in 1846. For a transitional period it appeared under combined titles before reverting to Westminster Review. A change of ownership in 1887 accompanied a shift from quarterly to monthly publication and a decline in the review's earlier progressive and intellectual influence. John Chapman died in 1894 after being struck by a cab in Paris, after which his wife Hannah assumed editorial responsibility. The Westminster Review continued publication until 1914, when the periodical ceased. It is remembered chiefly for its role in Benthamite and radical politics, its contribution to Victorian debates over science and evolution, and its association with major nineteenth-century writers and reformers.
History
The Westminster Review emerged from the reform politics of early nineteenth-century Britain. Jeremy Bentham had long wanted a periodical that would promote radical political ideas, utilitarian reasoning, and institutional reform. The review was founded in 1823 and its first issue appeared in January 1824. James Mill wrote the opening article, with John Stuart Mill continuing the argument in the following issue. Their criticism of the Edinburgh Review presented the new journal as a challenger to established reviewing culture and to what its founders regarded as the accommodation of aristocratic and Whig interests. The publication attracted a circulation of about 3,000 copies but remained financially unprofitable. Its original funding ended in 1828, and a change of ownership weakened its direct connection with the Philosophical Radicals. Sir William Molesworth later financed the London Review and acquired the Westminster Review, merging them into the London and Westminster Review. That title was used from 1836 to 1840, after which the publication returned to the Westminster Review name. William Edward Hickson became editor and preserved, in a more moderate form, the periodical's association with radicalism and progress. A major revival began after John Chapman acquired the review in 1851. Chapman's London publishing premises brought together writers and thinkers associated with free inquiry, social reform, science, and liberal politics. Mary Ann Evans, who later achieved fame as George Eliot, served as assistant editor and helped formulate the publication's broad commitment to progress and the reduction of social harms. The circle associated with the review included John Stuart Mill, Harriet Martineau, Francis Newman, W. R. Greg, Herbert Spencer, William Benjamin Carpenter, Robert Chambers, George J. Holyoake, Thomas Huxley, and John Tyndall. During the Chapman period, the Westminster Review became an important platform for debates about science and religion. John Oxenford's discussion of German philosophy helped introduce English readers to Schopenhauer. Herbert Spencer wrote on population theory, while Huxley and Tyndall developed the review's science coverage. In April 1860, Huxley's discussion of Darwin's On the Origin of Species used the term Darwinism in print. The review supported the importance of evolutionary thinking for liberal and scientific culture, although Huxley also questioned whether Darwin had fully demonstrated the capacity of natural selection to generate new species. The review also covered social class, poverty, education, theology, socialism, women's rights, and political reform. In 1886 it published an essay by Edward Aveling and Eleanor Marx addressing women's status from a socialist viewpoint. The periodical absorbed the Foreign Quarterly Review in 1846. Several combined titles were used during the transition, including Foreign Quarterly and Westminster Review and Westminster and Foreign Quarterly Review; after 1851, the Westminster Review title was again used. In 1887 a change of ownership accompanied a shift from quarterly to monthly publication. The review continued, but contemporary descriptions indicate that it no longer maintained the same progressive and intellectual influence associated with the Chapman era. John Chapman died in Paris in 1894 after being struck by a cab, and his wife Hannah subsequently took over editorial responsibility. The Westminster Review finally ceased publication in 1914. Its historical importance rests on its role as a vehicle for Benthamite reform, Victorian liberal and radical thought, and the public discussion of evolutionary science.
- 1914
Publication ends
[1]The Westminster Review ceased publication.
- 1887
Conversion to monthly publication
[1]A new ownership period brought a change from quarterly to monthly publication.
- 1860
Huxley discusses Darwinism
[1]Thomas Huxley's review of Darwin's evolutionary work used Darwinism as a printed term.
- 1851
Chapman ownership begins
[1]John Chapman acquired the review and made it a center for reformist, scientific, and literary contributors.
- 1846
Merger with the Foreign Quarterly Review
[1]The Foreign Quarterly Review was incorporated, producing a period of combined titles.
- 1836
Merger with the London Review
[1]The merged periodical began publication as the London and Westminster Review.
- 1828
Original funding ends
[1]The review was sold after its initial funding was exhausted and became less directly associated with the radical movement.
- 1824
First issue appears
[1]The January issue featured James Mill and established the journal's reformist stance.
- 1823
Founding of the review
[1]Jeremy Bentham established the Westminster Review as a publication for Philosophical Radical ideas.
Products and positioning
A reform-oriented British intellectual review combining radical politics, utilitarian philosophy, literary criticism, social commentary, and scientific discussion.
Quarterly intellectual and political periodical · 1824
The Westminster Review
The principal publication was a British review devoted to political reform, utilitarian and liberal philosophy, literary criticism, science, religion, and social questions. It began as the voice of the Philosophical Radicals, later broadened its intellectual network, and remained particularly notable for publishing discussions of evolution, free thought, socialism, and women's rights. It appeared quarterly for most of its life before becoming a monthly in 1887.
Merged review title · 1836
London and Westminster Review
This joint title represented the merger of the Westminster Review with the London Review. It was used from April 1836 through March 1840 and served as a transitional identity during the consolidation of radical reviewing ventures under Sir William Molesworth's support.
Merged review title · 1846
Westminster and Foreign Quarterly Review
Following the 1846 absorption of the Foreign Quarterly Review, the combined publication used several dual titles before returning to Westminster Review. The merged format connected the journal's domestic reform and intellectual coverage with foreign political, literary, and cultural commentary.
Brand decisions
1887
Change publication frequency from quarterly to monthlyStrategyBackground
A change of ownership occurred while the review faced a long-running challenge in sustaining its earlier influence.
Action taken
The publication was converted to a monthly schedule.
Aftermath
The review continued, but sources characterize its later intellectual and progressive profile as weaker than during the Chapman period.
1846
Absorb the Foreign Quarterly ReviewM&ABackground
The Foreign Quarterly Review ended as an independent publication after thirty-seven volumes.
Action taken
It was merged with the Westminster Review, which temporarily used combined titles.
Aftermath
The Westminster Review title was restored after October 1851 and continued until 1914.
1836
Merge the London Review with the Westminster ReviewM&ABackground
Sir William Molesworth supported a new radical review and subsequently acquired the Westminster Review.
Action taken
The two periodicals were combined under the London and Westminster Review title.
Aftermath
The joint title was used until 1840, after which the publication again appeared as the Westminster Review.
Recent events
- 1914
The Westminster Review ceases publication[1]
Other
After approximately ninety years of publication, the review was discontinued.
- 1887
The publication changes ownership and frequency[1]
Leadership change
A change of ownership coincided with conversion from quarterly to monthly publication and a reported decline in its earlier intellectual character.
- 1886
The review publishes an essay on socialism and women's rights[1]
Other
Edward Aveling and Eleanor Marx contributed an essay examining the woman question from a socialist perspective.
- 1860
The review advances evolutionary discussion[1]
Product generation · Other
Thomas Huxley's review of Darwin's Origin of Species used the term Darwinism in print and framed evolutionary thought as relevant to liberal intellectual debate.
- 1851
John Chapman acquires the review[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Publisher John Chapman acquired the periodical and assembled a network of writers, scientists, and reformers around it.
- 1846
The Foreign Quarterly Review is absorbed[1]
M&A
The Foreign Quarterly Review merged with the Westminster Review, producing several combined-title issues before the Westminster Review name was restored.
- 1836
The London Review merges with the Westminster Review[1]
M&A
After Sir William Molesworth acquired the Westminster Review, it was combined with the London Review and published under a joint title.
- 1824
The review publishes its first issue[1]
Product launch
The January issue opened with a major contribution by James Mill and helped define the periodical's opposition to the Edinburgh Review.
- 1823
The Westminster Review is founded[1]
Other
Jeremy Bentham established and funded the review as a vehicle for Philosophical Radical and utilitarian ideas.
Sources1 sources
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