George Warde Norman was a Director of the Bank of England from 1821 to 1872, a key figure behind the Bank Charter Act of 1844, and one of the founders of the Political Economy Club. In 1821 G.W. Norman began an essay on taxation as part of the utilitarian programme. His vision was of increased human happiness through a wholesale reform of the revenue system founded upon direct taxation in the form of a comprehensive property tax. He continued to work on the essay over many years, never losing his faith in the utilitarian ideal or his belief in the property tax solution as the key to fiscal...