Prompt Cast
The Story of Charles Cunningham Boycott and the Origins of the Word "Boycott"
TLDR Charles Cunningham Boycott, a disliked landlord in Ireland, faced social isolation and economic consequences when the Land League implemented a strategy of "moral coventry" against him. This led to a revolt from the community, difficulty finding workers, and ultimately the passing of the Irish Land Law Act.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Charles Cunningham Boycott was a disliked person in Ireland, to the point where his name became synonymous with refusing to do business with someone.
01:40
Charles Cunningham Boycott was born in 1832 in Norfolk, England, and after flunking out of military academy, his family bought him an officer's commission in the British Army, where he was stationed in Ireland and eventually decided to stay, subletting land from the Irish Church Mission Society.
03:11
Charles Cunningham Boycott moved to a property on the shore of Laomask and became a representative for Lord Urn, one of the largest landowners in Ireland, during a time when the majority of land in Ireland was owned by a small number of absentee landlords.
04:34
During a time of land reform advocacy in Ireland, Charles Cunningham Boycott, a disliked landlord, faced consequences for his actions when the Land League implemented a strategy of social isolation known as "moral coventry."
05:55
After evicting farmers who couldn't pay their rent, Boycott faced a revolt from the community, with women showering constables with rocks and manure, servants quitting, local villagers refusing to provide services, and shopkeepers refusing to sell to him.
07:14
Boycott faced difficulty finding workers to bring in the harvest, leading to a major political issue, and despite 50 volunteers from Ulster, the cost of police protection exceeded the value of the crops, ultimately leading to the spread of Boycott actions across Ireland and the passing of the Irish Land Law Act in April of 1881.
08:37
Father John O'Malley suggested the term "Boycott" to describe ostracism applied to a landlord or land agent, giving birth to a new word.
