The life and teachings of Joseph Livesey:
comprising his autobiography
Joseph Livesey’s Autobiography can be found in a few places on the world wide web.
There is one bound volume that contains ‘The Life and Teachings of Joseph Livesey by John Pearce, Joseph Livesey’s Autobiography’, and an introductory review of his labours as reformer and teacher. There is an appendix containing press and pulpit notices of Mr Livesey and the Malt Liquor lecture.
This edition, which is held The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan – rebranding as ‘University of Lancashire’), contains a signed inscription from William Livesey to William Edward Moss.
William Edward Moss, with the affectionate regards of his very aged friend and fellow worker in the cause of Teetotalism.
Christmas Day, 1902
William Livesey
The catalogue page can be seen on the university’s ‘CLoK’ website. “CLoK” stands for Central Lancashire Online Knowledge, which is the University of Lancashire’s institutional repository. It provides open‑access full-text research outputs—such as theses, conference papers, and journal articles—created by UCLan’s staff and students, subject to copyright permissions. It also offers bibliographic metadata and links to publisher-hosted versions of publications where available.
CLoK link: https://clok.uclan.ac.uk/id/eprint/56252/
The book itself has been scanned and is available for download in the PDF format. This is available here:
https://clok.uclan.ac.uk/id/eprint/56252/1/Liveseys%20Autobiography.pdf
Joseph Livesey’s Autobiography on Preston History
There is also a version that has been presented as individual chapter’s on the Preston History website. These pages can be viewed online, starting from the contents page.
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Who was Joseph Livesey?
Joseph Livesey (1794–1884) was a Preston businessman and social reformer whose influence reached far beyond his trade. Beginning life in Walton-le-Dale under difficult circumstances, he rose from weaving to become a prosperous cheese dealer. This financial security gave him the freedom to devote much of his energy to civic and social causes.
Early Years and Business
Orphaned while still young, Livesey grew up in modest conditions and first worked in the textile trade. In 1816 he entered into partnership with John Toulmin as a cheese factor, building a successful business that supported his later reform work.
Champion of Temperance
Livesey is most closely linked with the early temperance movement. In 1832 he and six other Preston men signed the famous pledge to abstain completely from alcohol, sparking what became known as the “teetotal” campaign. Through pamphlets, lectures, and his periodical The Moral Reformer, he tirelessly argued that sobriety was the key to improving working-class life.
Publishing and Public Engagement
Alongside his temperance work, Livesey was active in publishing. In 1844 he launched The Preston Guardian, a newspaper intended to give voice to local opinion. He also wrote and distributed countless tracts on reform, education, and public welfare.
Education and Social Concerns
A strong believer in self-improvement, Livesey helped to found the Preston Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge in 1828, an organisation that eventually evolved into today’s University of Central Lancashire. He was also a vocal opponent of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 and played a leading role in relief work during the Lancashire Cotton Famine of the 1860s.
Legacy
Livesey’s name remains closely associated with Preston’s reforming spirit. His efforts in education, publishing, and especially temperance left a deep mark on Victorian society. UCLan commemorates him with both a plaque in its Special Collections and a university building that bears his name.
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