History West Midlands On Air

In the first of two podcasts Professor Ewan Fernie tells the thrilling but almost totally forgotten story of George Dawson - preacher, activist and father of the Civic Gospel - who shaped the world's image of Birmingham in the 19th century. Described as 'Brummagem Dawson' by fellow philosopher Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), he was the individual who changed Birmingham from the town which Jane Austen described as 'not a place to promise much' into 'the chief centre of civilisation, the chief town of democracy, the town from which Liberty radiates to all the world', in only 50 years. Today the modern city, which owes him so much, has utterly forgotten this global figure. Listen to this extraordinary story as Professor Fernie talks to Mike Gibbs of History West Midlands. To learn more about the 'Everything to Everybody' Project please click below: Keywords: Brummagem, George Dawson, Professor Ewan Fernie, Civic Gospel, 19th Century