Free trade is an idea for which the classical economists are famous. But, we can't state simple statements about the influence of classical economics on the free trade policy. Because, it is now generally accepted that the prevailing economic orthodoxy was an obstacle to the free trade movement (or, to its leader R. Cobden and the members of the Manchester School). They had their own ideas about free trade and reasons for adovocating it. The same is true of the landed interest.
The main purpose of this essay is to trace the development of ideas on free trade in England, 1820-1846, with regard to the following problems; (1) the development of Cobden's ideas about free trade from 1830's to 1840's; (2) the impact or influence of Cobden's ideas about free trade on the businessmen and the landed interest; (3) the characteristics and roles of these three groups' (Cobden, businessmen, landed interest) ideas on free trade.