Encyclopedias: Spartacus Educational: Reform of Parliament: Thomas Fyshe Palmer

Description: Abstract: Born in August 1747. After being educated at Eton and Queen's College, Cambridge, he became a curate at Leatherhead in Surrey where he came under the influence of the radical preacher, Joseph Priestley. Palmer became dissatisfied with the doctrines of the Church of England and moved to Montrose in Scotland where he joined a group of Unitarians who had opened a chapel in the town. In 1793, he and three other men found guilty of writing and publishing pamphlets on parliamentary reform, were sentenced to prison in Australia. Unlike some of the Scottish Martyrs, Palmer appeared to get on well with the military in New South Wales. He died on 2nd January 1802.