Encyclopedias: Spartacus Educational: Reform of Parliament: The Times

Description: Founded by John Walter in 1785 as neutral in politics, the Daily Universal Register included parliamentary reports. Needing funds, a secret deal was made to publish stories favourable to the government. In 1788 it began focusing on scandals and gossip and was renamed The Times. With a new owner in 1803 the newspaper advocated independent reporting and began to argue for parliamentary reform. In a debate in the House of Commons in 1832, Sir Robert Peel argued that The Times was the "principal and most powerful advocate of Reform" in Britain.