--- title: "The Vegetarian Movement in England, 1847-1981: Animal Welfare: The Humanitarian League - IVU - International Vegetarian Union" description: "The Vegetarian Movement in England, 1847-1981: Animal Welfare: The Humanitarian League: THE VEGETARIAN MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND, 1847-1981 : A STUDY IN THE STRUCTURE OF ITS IDEOLOGY A thesis presented to the London School of Economics, University of London, for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, by Julia Twigg ©AUTUMN 1981 - Thesis Index The" url: "https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews/2766-history-thesis-humanitarian.html" date: "2026-11-06T00:16:37+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- # The Vegetarian Movement in England, 1847-1981: Animal Welfare: The Humanitarian League ![The Vegetarian Movement in England, 1847-1981: Animal Welfare: The Humanitarian League](https://ivu.org/images/legacy/history/banners/history-thesis-humanitarian.png) | THE VEGETARIAN MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND, 1847-1981 : A STUDY IN THE STRUCTURE OF ITS IDEOLOGY A thesis presented to the London School of Economics, University of London, for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, by Julia Twigg ©AUTUMN 1981 - [Thesis Index](https://ivu.org/hv-libraries-research-history-thesis-index.html) [The author](http://www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr/staff/academic/twigg.html) is now Professor of Social Policy and Sociology at Kent University, England, and has given permission for this previously unpublished thesis to be published on the IVU website. The ownership and copyright remain hers and no part of this thesis may be used elsewhere without her express permission. CHAPTER SIX: THE LATE NINETEENTH AND EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURIES. \[Numerical links are to the author's footnotes, use your back button to return to the same point in the text. Text links are to relevant items on the IVU website, all open in new windows\] ANIMAL WELFARE The Humanitarian League The second centre of activity in animal welfare was the Humanitarian League, founded in 1891 by [Salt](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews/2623-history-salt-index.html) to form a united front to advance 'Humanitarianism' and aimed at the 'practice of humane principles - of compassion, love, gentleness, and universal benevolence'. [(1)](#1) The unity of the humanitarian cause was particularly important to Salt, who saw vegetarianism and socialism as all part of this larger issue. The league aimed to fight cruelty towards both man and beast - in the form of cruel punishments, particularly flogging in schools and prisons; [(2)](#2) blood sports, particularly those of the social elite, fighting a lively campaign against the Eton College Beagles and the Royal Buckhounds, as well as the more common forms of blood sports; [(3)](#3) vivisection; the feeding of live animals as food in the London zoo; [(4)](#4) the fur and feather trade; and private slaughterhouses. The Humanitarian League was intended to be a fighting body, and one which would rid the animal welfare cause of the taint of sentimentality. Activists like Salt had little time for moderate bodies like RSPCA. [(5)](#5) Salt himself was at the centre of the League's activities, though [Shaw](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews/2632-history-shaw-index.html), [Carpenter](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews/2751-history-thesis-carpenter.html), Howard Williams and Bell were also involved, as were Aylmer Maude, Ouida, W.H. Hudson, Pasemore Edwards, [(6)](#6) Trine, Watts and Sidney Olivier. Not all members shared Salt’s vegetarianism. The League flourished between 1891 and 1910, though it continued into the period of the war, publishing a series of books and journals, [(7)](#7) among which was Salt's spoof magazine The Brutalitarian: A Journal for the Sane and Strong, which, to his great amusement, was taken seriously by the sporting papers who approved of its cry for a 'united front against sickly humanitarian sentimentality' [(8)](#8) --- 1. *214*. H.S. Salt Humanitarianism: Its General Principle and Progress, 1893, p3. It includes the manifesto of the League, p28. 2. *215*. H.S. Salt The Flogging Craze: A Statement of the Case Against Corporal Punishment, 1916. 3. *216*. See Salt’s Seventy Years for accounts of these campaigns p152-160. See also the collection of essays Killing for Sport, 1914, ed. H.S. Salt, which included contributions from Carpenter, Maurice Adams and Ernest Bell. Also Hendrick, p56-84. 4. *217*. Salt, Seventy Years, p164. The issue was hotly debated in the zoological meetings and raised questions of design in the universe and the cruelty of nature. 5. *218*. Seventy Years, 161-2, for Salt's views on RSPCA and its leader Colam. The RSPCA partly because of its social base – it was always happier attacking the brutality of the streets rather than that of educated, professional groups like the doctors, or of the social elite - and partly because of its concern not to move too far ahead of public opinion, refused to come out against vivisection or hunting. 6. *219*. Passmore Edwards is credited by Forward as being a vegetarian at one time, though his biography by E. Harcourt Burrage, 1902, J. Pasamore Edwards: Philanthropist, does not mention this. 7. *220*. Humanity, later Humanitarian, 1895-1919 and Humane Review 1900-10. Also a series of books. 8. *221*, 1904. Seventy Years, p174. *Previous:* [Anti-Vivisection](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews/2746-history-thesis-anti-vivisection.html) \| [ Thesis Index](https://ivu.org/hv-libraries-research-history-thesis-index.html) \| *Next:*[ The Religious Background - Shared Themes](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews/2784-history-thesis-religion1.html) | A note on this archive. The history section of this website is drawn from a body of legacy content originally compiled by John Davis, former manager of the International Vegetarian Union. It represents his curation of historical material, and in places includes passages written by him directly. Over the years, the IVU website has migrated between several different hosting servers. In the course of these migrations, a number of PDF files were unfortunately lost, and **some links to PDF documents may no longer function**. Where this is the case, we have chosen to leave the original link text in place, as it may itself carry information of historical value. - Hits: 1195 ### Vegan Recipes - [![Vegan Curry Fried Spring Rolls](https://ivu.org/media/zoo/images/th10%20454_a0f15a4d730fbcc2a884d3e365e1cf9c.jpg "Vegan Curry Fried Spring Rolls")](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/item/vegan-gourd-stuffed-with-rice-and-mushroom-sauce.html "Vegan Curry Fried Spring Rolls") #### [Vegan Curry Fried Spring Rolls](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/item/vegan-gourd-stuffed-with-rice-and-mushroom-sauce.html "Vegan Curry Fried Spring Rolls") [Main course](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/category/main-course-for-lunch-and-dinner.html) [Vietnam](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/category/vietnam.html) [Sauces](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/category/sauces.html) - [![VEGAN PAN BREAD](https://ivu.org/media/zoo/images/th10%20275_0457b20864e49efdb0b63d65d96a6a40.jpg "VEGAN PAN BREAD")](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/item/vegan-pan-bread.html "VEGAN PAN BREAD") #### [VEGAN PAN BREAD](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/item/vegan-pan-bread.html "VEGAN PAN BREAD") [Breakfast and brunch](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/category/breakfast-and-brunch.html) [Vietnam](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/category/vietnam.html) [Stir Fry](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/category/fake-meats-tofu-etc-2.html) - [![Christmas Tree Broccoli with Almonds and Garlic](https://ivu.org/media/zoo/images/christmas-tree-broccoli-with-almonds-and-garlic-1777406621_14ab11e5776645cfcd173150c9910d6c.jpg "Christmas Tree Broccoli with Almonds and Garlic")](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/item/christmas-tree-broccoli-with-almonds-and-garlic.html "Christmas Tree Broccoli with Almonds and Garlic") #### [Christmas Tree Broccoli with Almonds and Garlic](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/item/christmas-tree-broccoli-with-almonds-and-garlic.html "Christmas Tree Broccoli with Almonds and Garlic") [Starters & side dishes](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/category/snack-side-dishes.html) [African](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/category/african.html) [South Africa](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/front-page/category/south-africa.html) ### VFA Blog - #### [Vegan Egg Substitutes: Transform Your Recipes with Creativity and Flavor](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/blog-front-page/item/vegan-egg-substitutes-transform-your-recipes-with-creativity-and-flavor.html "Vegan Egg Substitutes: Transform Your Recipes with Creativity and Flavor") - [Read more](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/blog-front-page/item/vegan-egg-substitutes-transform-your-recipes-with-creativity-and-flavor.html) ### Science - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/science/207-rapid-global-phaseout-of-animal-agriculture-has-the-potential-to-stabilize-greenhouse-gas-levels-for-30-years.html) [ Rapid global phaseout of animal agriculture has the potential to stabilize greenhouse gas levels for 30 years](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/science/207-rapid-global-phaseout-of-animal-agriculture-has-the-potential-to-stabilize-greenhouse-gas-levels-for-30-years.html) Popular - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/science/206-animal-agriculture-and-climate-change-a-qualitative-holistic-note.html) [ Animal Agriculture and Climate change a Qualitative holistic note](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/science/206-animal-agriculture-and-climate-change-a-qualitative-holistic-note.html) Popular - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/science/202-environmental-impact-of-two-plant-based-isocaloric-and-isoproteic-diets-the-vegan-diet-vs-the-mediterranean-diet.html) [ Environmental Impact of Two Plant Based Isocaloric and Isoproteic Diets The Vegan Diet vs the Mediterranean Diet](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/science/202-environmental-impact-of-two-plant-based-isocaloric-and-isoproteic-diets-the-vegan-diet-vs-the-mediterranean-diet.html) Popular ### History [ ![Taiwan's climate legislation embraces plant based eating](https://ivu.org/joomlatools-files/docman-images/generated/0f49c89d1e7298bb9930789c8ed59d48.jpg) Taiwan's climate legislation embraces plant based eating ](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/history/vegan-nutrition-history/283-taiwans-climate-legislation-embraces-plant-based-eating.html "Taiwan's climate legislation embraces plant based eating") [ ![Chinese Dietary Guidelines 2022 Guideline 4 Eat fish poultry eggs, and lean meat in moderation](https://ivu.org/joomlatools-files/docman-images/generated/6a9aeddfc689c1d0e3b9ccc3ab651bc5.jpg) Chinese Dietary Guidelines 2022 Guideline 4 Eat fish poultry eggs, and lean meat in moderation ](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/history/vegan-nutrition-history/282-chinese-dietary-guidelines-2022-guideline-4-eat-fish-poultry-eggs-and-lean-meat-in-moderation.html "Chinese Dietary Guidelines 2022 Guideline 4 Eat fish poultry eggs, and lean meat in moderation") [ ![Reply to Proposal No 4748 (Agriculture and Water Conservancy Category No 297) of the Third Session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People´s Political Consultative Conference](https://ivu.org/joomlatools-files/docman-images/generated/e3796ae838835da0b6f6ea37bcf8bcb7.jpg) Reply to Proposal No 4748 (Agriculture and Water Conservancy Category No 297) of the Third Session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People´s Political Consultative Conference ](https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/history/vegan-nutrition-history/281-reply-to-proposal-no-4748-agriculture-and-water-conservancy-category-no-297-of-the-third-session-of-the-13th-national-committee-of-the-chinese-peoples-political-consultative-conference.html "Reply to Proposal No 4748 (Agriculture and Water Conservancy Category No 297) of the Third Session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People´s Political Consultative Conference") ### Download the Vegetarian Nutrition Booklet for Kids and Adolescents - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/117-vegetarian-nutrition-booklet-for-kids-and-adolescents.html) [ vegetarian-nutrition-booklet-for-kids-and-adolescents](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/117-vegetarian-nutrition-booklet-for-kids-and-adolescents.html) Popular 7676 downloads - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/122-booklet-ivu-portugues-web.html) [ Booklet IVU portugues web](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/122-booklet-ivu-portugues-web.html) Popular 7320 downloads - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/123-nutrition-guide-for-students-with-khmer-translation.html) [ Nutrition Guide for Students (with Khmer Translation)](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/123-nutrition-guide-for-students-with-khmer-translation.html) Popular 6052 downloads - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/130-2023-05-03-18-17-13.html) [ ベジタリアン・ヴィーガン栄養ガイド](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/130-2023-05-03-18-17-13.html) Popular 5524 downloads - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/124-vegetarian-nutritie-cartea-pentru-copii-si-adolescenti.html) [ BROȘURA DE NUTRIȚIE VEGETARIANĂ - Romanian](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/124-vegetarian-nutritie-cartea-pentru-copii-si-adolescenti.html) Popular 5040 downloads - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/131-cartel-de-nutricion-vegetariana.html) [ CARTEL DE NUTRICIÓN VEGETARIANA](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/kids-booklet/131-cartel-de-nutricion-vegetariana.html) Popular 4558 downloads ### Nutrition - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/294-what-are-the-best-sources-of-protein-introducing-the-bpi-score.html) [ What are the best sources of protein Introducing the BPI Score](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/294-what-are-the-best-sources-of-protein-introducing-the-bpi-score.html) Popular 603 downloads - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/250-2024-the-omniveg-study-health-outcomes-of-shifting-from-a-traditional-to-a-vegan-mediterranean-diet-in-healthy-men-a-controlled-crossover-trial.html) [ 2024 The OMNIVEG STUDY Health outcomes of shifting from a traditional to a vegan Mediterranean diet in healthy men A controlled crossover trial](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/250-2024-the-omniveg-study-health-outcomes-of-shifting-from-a-traditional-to-a-vegan-mediterranean-diet-in-healthy-men-a-controlled-crossover-trial.html) Popular 2782 downloads - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/205-plant-based-nutrition-exploring-health-benefits-for-atherosclerosis-chronic-diseases-and-metabolic-syndrome-a-comprehensive-review.html) [ Plant Based Nutrition Exploring Health Benefits for Atherosclerosis, Chronic Diseases, and Metabolic Syndrome—A Comprehensive Review](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/205-plant-based-nutrition-exploring-health-benefits-for-atherosclerosis-chronic-diseases-and-metabolic-syndrome-a-comprehensive-review.html) Popular 3834 downloads - [ pdf ](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/204-2024-plant-and-animal-fat-intake-and-overall-and-cardiovascular-disease-mortality-main-folder-all-cause-mortality.html) [ 2024 Plant and Animal Fat Intake and Overall and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Main Folder All Cause Mortality](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutrition-articles/health-nutrition/204-2024-plant-and-animal-fat-intake-and-overall-and-cardiovascular-disease-mortality-main-folder-all-cause-mortality.html) Popular 4052 downloads ![](https://ivu.org/media/yootheme/cache/02/adult-guide-029d8cad.png)### The International Vegetarian Union’s Vegan Nutrition Guide for Adults In 2 versions: - [For healthcare professionals](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutritional-guide/the-international-vegetarian-union-s-vegan-nutrition-guide-for-adults-healthcare-professionals.html) - [General Public Edition](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutritional-guide/guide-for-non-healthcare-professionals.html) [Get it now](https://ivu.org/nutrition/nutritional-guide.html) ![](https://ivu.org/images/banners/booklet2.jpg)### Vegetarian Nutrition Booklet A Dietary Approach to Vegetarianism for Kids and Adolescents The intention of this booklet is present to kids and adolescents a healthy vegan diet [Read more](https://ivu.org/nutrition/vegetarian-nutrition-book-for-kids-and-adolescents.html) Vegan Nutrition ![](https://ivu.org/media/yootheme/cache/a6/logo_IVU_01_SLOGAN-a678b962.png) ### Presidents, Chair and Council - [IVU President and Chair of the International Council](https://ivu.org/ivu-chair.html) - [IVU Honorary President](https://ivu.org/ivu-honorary-president.html) - [International Council](https://ivu.org/international-council.html) ### Departments - [Fund-raising](https://ivu.org/fund-raising.html) - [Global Health](https://ivu.org/global-health-department.html) - [Medicine and Nutrition](https://ivu.org/nutrition/medicine-and-nutrition.html) - [Policy Initiatives](https://ivu.org/policies-initiatives.html) - [Articles](https://ivu.org/policies-initiatives/policies-iniciatives-articles.html) ### Regions - [Europe](https://ivu.org/europe-union.html) - [Latin America](https://ivu.org/latin-america.html) - [North America](https://ivu.org/north-america.html) - [Africa](https://ivu.org/africa-continent.html) - [Asia-Pacific](https://ivu.org/asia-pacific-region.html) - [Asia-South & India](https://ivu.org/asia-south-west.html) - [Asia-West & Middle East](https://ivu.org/asia-west-middle-east.html) - [Contacts](https://ivu.org/contact-ivu.html) ### Blogs - [Cynthia Schuck](https://ivu.org/cynthia-schuck.html) - [John Davis](https://ivu.org/john-davis.html) - [Marly Winckler](https://ivu.org/marly-winckler.html) - [Vegan Food Academy](https://ivu.org/vegan-recipes-around-the-world/vegan-food-academy/blog-front-page.html) - [Login](https://ivu.org/login-2.html) ## Schema ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://ivu.org/hv-libraries-research-history-thesis-index.html?view=article&id=2766:history-thesis-humanitarian&catid=75","url":"https://ivu.org/hv-libraries-research-history-thesis-index.html?view=article&id=2766:history-thesis-humanitarian&catid=75","name":"The Vegetarian Movement in England, 1847-1981 (Julia Twigg, PhD thesis) — part 24 of 58","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":[{"@id":"https://ivu.org/history-of-ivu.html#archive"},{"@id":"https://ivu.org/hv-libraries-research-history-thesis-index.html"}],"publisher":{"@id":"https://ivu.org/#organization"},"description":"THE VEGETARIAN MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND, 1847-1981 : A STUDY IN THE STRUCTURE OF ITS IDEOLOGY A thesis presented to the London School of Economics, University of London, for the degree of Doctor of…","about":{"@id":"https://ivu.org/hv-libraries-research-history-thesis-index.html#thesis"}}]} ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://ivu.org" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "IVU", "item": "https://ivu.org/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Resources", "item": "https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources.html" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Interviews", "item": "https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews.html" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "History of the Vegetarian Societies", "item": "https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews.html" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "name": "history", "item": "https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews.html" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "name": "thesis", "item": "https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews.html" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "name": "The Vegetarian Movement in England, 1847-1981: Animal Welfare: The Humanitarian League", "item": "https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews/2766-history-thesis-humanitarian.html" } ] } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://ivu.org/international-vegetarian-union/resources/interviews/2766-history-thesis-humanitarian.html" }, "headline": "The Vegetarian Movement in England, 1847-1981: Animal Welfare: The Humanitarian League", "description": "The Vegetarian Movement in England, 1847-1981: Animal Welfare: The Humanitarian League: THE VEGETARIAN MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND, 1847-1981 : A STUDY IN THE STRUCTURE OF ITS IDEOLOGY A thesis presented to the London School of Economics, University of London, for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, by Julia Twigg ©AUTUMN 1981 - Thesis Index The", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "International Vegetarian Union", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://ivu.org/images/logos/logo-ivu-tranparent-background.png" } }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Fernandes", "url": "https://ivu.org/international-council.html" }, "datePublished": "2026-10-15T23:59:29+00:00", "dateCreated": "2026-05-29T01:58:53+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-10-08T00:53:52+00:00" } ```