[f. L. charta, in sense CHARTER + -IST.] One of the body of political reformers (chiefly of the working classes) who arose in 1837–6, and whose principles were embodied in the document onlled the ‘People’s Charter’ (CHARTER sb. 1 d). (The organization came to an end after 1848.)
‘Not found in their organ, the Northern Star, before August 1838.’ (N. & Q., 7 s. VI. 433/1.)
1838. Ann. Reg., xv. 310–1. A public meeting of the ‘Chartists’ was convened in the day time at Palace Yard, Westminster.
1850–1. Ht. Martineau, Hist. Peace (1877), III. V. v. 263. The body soon to be called Chartists—as soon as their political ideas had resolved themselves into the form of a charter which the people might demand.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Race, Wks. (Bohn), II. 22. A country of extremes—dukes and chartists, Bishops of Durham and naked heathen colliers.
1882. W. J. Linton, in Century Mag., XXIII. 423/1. The very name of the People’s Charter helped the opponents to a nickname. Chartist … became a word of reproach.
b. attrib. or as adj.
1840. Hood, Up the Rhine, Introd. 2. The Chartist outbreaks.
1845. M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), I. 219. Chartist doctrines … made such progress in South Wales, as to give rise to dangerous commotions.
1848. Illust. Lond. News, 17 June, 391/2. Failure of the Chartist Demonstrations.
