Edward Corbett

Born on 30 December 1817, Edward Corbett was a British landowner from Shropshire who later served as a Conservative MP for South Shropshire from 1868 to 1877. He is often listed as Colonel Edward Corbett, reflecting his military background as well as his public life.

For readers, he is best remembered for An Old Coachman's Chatter, with Some Practical Remarks on Driving, published in the late nineteenth century. The book mixes firsthand recollections with practical advice on handling horse-drawn vehicles, giving it the feel of both memoir and handbook.

That blend of lived experience and plainspoken instruction is what makes Corbett interesting today. His writing opens a window onto a world of mail coaches, road travel, and everyday Victorian movement just as that way of life was disappearing.