In 1859, the philosopher and leading liberal theorist of Victorian Britain, John Stuart Mill, published his most important and enduring work – On Liberty. In this essay Mill set out the principle, still acknowledged as universal and valid today, that only the threat of harm to others could justify interfering with anyone’s liberty of action.  

On Liberty has become the most revered of liberal texts. On 14 November 2009, the Liberal Democrat History Group, the London School of Economics and the British Liberal Political Studies Group are holding a one-day symposium to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of On Liberty and to publicise the archive of papers left by Mill and his wife Harriet Taylor who, according to Mill, was as much responsible for On Liberty as he was himself.  

Speakers who have agreed to give papers include: 

David Howarth, Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge: The importance of J S Mill and On Liberty to British thought and politics today  

Dr Eugenio Biagini, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge: J S Mill and the Victorian Liberal Party  

Dr Annabelle Lever, Institute of Science Ethics & Innovation, Manchester Law School: Mill and the Secret Ballot 

Dr Georgios Varouxakis, Queen Mary, University of London:  Mill’s Vision of International Relations 

Sue Donnelly, Archivist at the LSE Library: The Mill-Taylor Archives at the LSE (with optional visit to see papers in the archive over the lunch break) 

Dr Michael Levin, Emeritus Reader in Politics, Goldsmiths’ College, University of London: Mill and the Threat to Civilization 

Dr Alan Butt Philip, University of Bath and J S Mill Institute:  Mill as a politician 

The cost of the conference will be £10 to include refreshments at mid-morning and mid-afternoon.