- These men were from wealthy landowning families, who could afford to go abroad and get a classical education.
- They were humanists in religion and education and believed in the rule of law and the equality of all men before the law.
- They were in favor of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and the right to due process of law.
- They believed that the power of the state should be limited and that the government should be accountable to the people.
- They were also in favor of the British Empire and believed that it should be used to spread these values around the world.
- They were also influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment and were committed to the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity.