Episode 6. Disability in Britain and Ireland – 1714 to 1785

In Episode 6, Dr Declan Kavanagh (University of Kent) discusses the development of ideas around, and responses to, disability in Britain and Ireland in the 18th century.

Dr Kavanagh examines the definition given in Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary in 1755 and looks at the medical and charity models of responding to disability in this period. He then turns to William Hay’s landmark essay on ‘Deformity’, in which Hay offers a candid and personal description of living with disability in the 18th century. Hay reflects that his lived experience is a valuable and unique resource which has enabled him to perfect his mind in ways that wider society could and should learn from.

Power and Freedom in Britain and Ireland: 1714–2010

1714-1785 – From early to modern Britain and Ireland

View the other films in the series here:

• 1. Power & freedom: Introduction – 1714 to 1785 (open access)
• 2. Party Politics – 1714 to 1785 
• 3. Economic and social change – 1714 to 1785 
• 4. Black British History – 1714 to 1785 (open access) 
• 5. Finance in Britain and Ireland – 1714 to 1785 
• 6. Disability in Britain and Ireland– 1714 to 1785 (open access)

From royal courts to radical protests, from industrial revolutions to global empires – this compelling new film series traces the dramatic evolution of power, rights, and freedom across three centuries of British and Irish history.

We will trace Britain and Ireland’s transformation from 1714 to 2010, unpacking power struggles, social revolutions, and the evolving meaning of freedom.

With expert insights from renowned scholars including Emma Griffin, Carl Griffin, and Katrina Navickas, the series offers a fresh and inclusive perspective on Britain’s past and brings to life the voices of monarchs, reformers, workers, and everyday people.

Further films will be released over the coming months, covering the period 1714-1785 – from early to modern Britain and Ireland. These will be followed by further series in 2026-2027 and beyond, ultimately bringing the content up to 1997-2010.