William Tuckwell

William Tuckwell (27 November 1829 – 1 February 1919), who liked to be known as the "radical parson", was an English Anglican clergyman well known on political platforms for his experiments in allotments, his advocacy of land nationalisation, and his enthusiasm for Christian socialism. He was an advocate of teaching science in the schools.

Life Tuckwell was born on 27 November 1829. He was the eldest son of Margaret, née Wood (1803/4–1842) and William Tuckwell (1784–1845), a surgeon at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford.

Tuckwell was educated at a preparatory school in Hammersmith before attending Winchester College from 1842 and New College, Oxford, in 1848. It was recorded that his "energy and vitality" increased the size and quality of the school.

In 1858 he married Rosa Strong (b. 1829/30), eldest daughter of Captain Henry Strong, an Indian army officer. Her younger sister was feminist and trade unionist Emilia Dilke. Rosa and William Tuckwell had four children, one son and three daughters. Their second daughter Gertrude Tuckwell (1861–1951) was a trade unionist, social worker, author, and the first woman magistrate appointed in London.

William Tuckwell died on 1 February 1919.

His daughter was Gertrude Tuckwell, to whom his Reminiscences of a Radical Parson was dedicated.

Christian socialism Tuckwell became active in politics in February 1884, at the time of the great reform bill. His work among the poor had led him to enquire much about their conditions and lives.

Over the next ten years he delivered more than a thousand speeches in support of Christian socialism and in favour of a redistribution of wealth and land.