James Harrington

James Harrington was an English political theorist, born in 1611 at Upton in Northamptonshire, who is known for his contributions to classical republican thought. His best known book, The Commonwealth of Oceana of 1656, sets out an ideal republican constitution based on Aristotle's theories of constitutional stability and revolution, and was conceived as a model for the Commonwealth of England after the execution of Charles I. Oliver Cromwell reacted unfavourably and the book was at first seized at the press, though Harrington won it back through the favour of Cromwell's daughter Elizabeth Claypole. He argued for vote by ballot, the rotation of magistrates and legislators, an aristocracy of limited powers and a strong middle class, and with others formed a club called the Rota in 1659 to promote these ideas. After the Restoration he was imprisoned and died in 1677. His thought later influenced classical republicanism in the United States.