Henry Mayhew

• Henry Mayhew was disinherited by his father when he perused a writing career instead of his destined career in law. He contributed to and edited the comic magazine 'Figaro in London' from its founding in 1831 until its collapse in 1838. He also wrote a play 'The Wandering Minstrel' in 1834 and briefly managed a theatre.
• Returning to England from France, in 1841, he co-founded the satirical magazine 'Punch' with his friend Mark Lemon. It was an unexpected success, selling 6000 copies a week in the 1840s. Severing his connections in 1845, he began to write articles for the 'Illustrated London News' and eventually worked mainly as a journalist for the 'Morning Chronicle'.
• In 1849, Mayhew wrote a series of articles for the 'Morning Chronicle' which described the lives of the poor in London. These were later gathered together and published in a book 'London Labour and the London Poor'. Although it was primarily concerned with London, he did place his findings in London in a wider national context.
• As part of Mayhew's articles, he visited the homes and workplaces of the poor and wrote about what he saw, smelled and felt. His innovative and unemotional investigative journalism revealed the extent to which London's economy depended on unskilled and casual labour.
• Like many Victorians, Mayhew was interested in classification, dividing the labouring poor into 'Those who will work, those who cannot work and those who will not work'.
• Those who will work:

  These were the able-bodied poor who undertook a wide range of jobs. The elite of this group were the skilled artisans (e.g. cabinetmakers, jewellers). They were manual workers, but they had specific skills that they could sell. Similarly, there were craftsmen (e.g. masons, weavers) who could command a reasonable wage. Finally, there was casual workers (e.g. those who did the sweeping, reaping) whose work was readily available when times were good, but virtually non-existent in times of slump.
• Those who cannot work:

  Some of the able-bodied poor couldn't work as there was simply no work for them to do. In bad weather, house painters and bricklayers couldn't work. A failed cotton crop in the USA meant mill workers were laid off. When there was no unemployment benefit, the poor did they best they could. Pawnbrokers flourished and corner shops gave credit. However, many had to take to begging or were forced to seek help by charities or the guardians of the poor. Similarly, many labourers couldn't work due to injuries/illnesses. The elderly also fit into this group.
• Those who will not work:

  Beggars and vagrants (who Mayhew noted to almost always be men and boys) were a common sight. He calculated there were between 40000 and 100000 destitute men and boys tramping the roads and begging where they could.