Westminster Review

The Westminster Review was founded in 1823 by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill as a journal for philosophical radicals, and was published from 1824 to 1914. In 1851 the journal was acquired by John Chapman based at 142 the Strand, London, a publisher who originally had medical training. The then unknown Mary Ann Evans, later better known by her pen name of George Eliot, had brought together his authors, including Francis Newman, W. R. Greg, Harriet Martineau and the young journalist Herbert Spencer who had been working and living ...

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• Westminster Review - Notable contributors

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Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862; born David Henry Thoreau) was an American author, naturalist, transcendentalist, pacifist, tax resister and philosopher who is famous for Walden (available at wikisource), on simple living amongst nature, and Civil Disobedience (available at wikisource), on resistance to civil government. He was a lifelong abolitionist, delivering lectures that attacked the Fugitive Slave Law while praising the writings of Wendell Phillips and defending the radical John Brown. Am ...

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• Henry David Thoreau - Life and work
• Henry David Thoreau - Bibliography
• Henry David Thoreau - Online texts

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Robert Chambers was a scientific geologist, and availed himself of tours in Scandinavia and Canada for the purpose of geological exploration. The results of his travels were embodied in Tracings of the North of Europe (1851) and Tracings in Iceland and the Faroe Islands (1856). His knowledge of geology was one of the principal grounds on which the authorship of the Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation (2 vols., 1843–1846), was eventually assigned to him. The book was published anonymously, and daringly set out i ...

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Robert Chambers, Robert Chambers - W. & R. Chambers publishers, Robert Chambers - Vestiges, Robert Chambers - Book of Days

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Mary Ann Evans was the daughter of an estate agent in Warwickshire, born on a farm on the Arbury Hall Estate near Nuneaton. She was brought up with a narrowly low church religion. Charles Bray, a Coventry manufacturer, brought her into contact with more liberal theologies. She translated Strauss' Life of Jesus (1846) and began contributing to the Westminster Review in 1850 and became its assistant editor in 1851. The Westminster Review had been founded by John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham and was the leading journal fo ...

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George Eliot, George Eliot - Biography, George Eliot - Select Works, George Eliot - Literary assessment, George Eliot - Select bibliography, George Eliot - Bibliography, George Eliot - Context and Background, George Eliot - Critical Studies

Read more here: » George Eliot: Encyclopedia II - George Eliot - Biography

Bowring was born in Exeter of an old Puritan family. In early life he came under the influence of Jeremy Bentham. He did not, however, share his master's contempt for belles lettres. He was a diligent student of literature and foreign languages, especially those of Eastern Europe. Bowring ranked with Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti and Hans Conon von der Gabelentz among the world's greatest hyperpolyglots - his talent enabling him at last to say that he knew 200 languages, and could speak 100. The first fruits of his study of foreig ...

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John Bowring, John Bowring - Early Life, John Bowring - Political Economist Career, John Bowring - British MP, John Bowring - Consul, John Bowring - Governor of Hong Kong, John Bowring - Post-Governorship, John Bowring - Personal Life, John Bowring - Honours, John Bowring - Literary Works Published, John Bowring - Places Named After Him

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He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, and studied at Harvard between 1833 and 1837, majoring in English. Today, an equivalent degree would be in comparative literature. There are legends stating Thoreau did not want to pay the five dollar fee required to graduate from Harvard College to receive a college diploma; therefore, he never received his diploma. In fact, the Masters' degree document which he declined to purchase had no academic merit: Harvard College offered a master of arts degree to anyone of its graduates “who proved their phy ...

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Henry David Thoreau, Henry David Thoreau - Life and work, Henry David Thoreau - Bibliography, Henry David Thoreau - Online texts

Read more here: » Henry David Thoreau: Encyclopedia II - Henry David Thoreau - Life and work

Darwin's brother Erasmus thought it "the most interesting book I have ever read", and sent a copy to his old flame Miss Harriet Martineau who at 58 was still reviewing from her home in the Lake District. From her "snow landscape" Martineau sent her thanks, adding that she had previously praised "the quality & conduct of your brother's mind, but it is an unspeakable satisfaction to see here the full manifestation of its earnestness & simplicity, its sagacity, its industry, & the patient power by which it has collected such a mass ...

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Reaction to Darwin's theory, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Background, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Publication of The Origin of Species, Reaction to Darwin's theory - First reviews, Reaction to Darwin's theory - First response, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Friendly reviews, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Clerical concern atheist enthusiasm, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Erasmus and Martineau, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Clerical reaction, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Huxley and Owen, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Widespread interest, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Debate, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Essays and Reviews, Reaction to Darwin's theory - The British Association debate, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Wilberforce's Quarterly review, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Natural History Review, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Darwin at home, Reaction to Darwin's theory - Arguments with Owen

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A single barnacle species was left to describe, and Darwin began dissecting with the assistance of Hooker who was now at Kew. To compare this with other species he borrowed specimens, and soon became involved in a much needed comprehensive study of these peculiar creatures that had recently been found to be crustaceans rather than molluscs. To Hooker such an exhaustive study might dampen Darwin's tendency to speculative theorising, and to Darwin it would establish his credentials. Dev ...

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Development of Darwin's theory, Development of Darwin's theory - Background, Development of Darwin's theory - Married life, Development of Darwin's theory - First writings on the theory, Development of Darwin's theory - Essay, Development of Darwin's theory - Vestiges published, Development of Darwin's theory - Trifling facts, Development of Darwin's theory - Barnacles, Development of Darwin's theory - Hooker reads the Essay, Development of Darwin's theory - British Association: Vestiges and Wilberforce, Development of Darwin's theory - Health problems, Development of Darwin's theory - Water Cure, Development of Darwin's theory - Homologies in barnacles, Development of Darwin's theory - Annie falls ill, Development of Darwin's theory - Family life, Development of Darwin's theory - Progressive reforms, Development of Darwin's theory - Renewal of work on Species, Development of Darwin's theory - Towards publication

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The word was first used in a political sense in 18th century Great Britain. Initially confined to upper and middle classes, in the early 19th century "popular radicals" brought artisans and the "labouring classes" into widespread agitation in the face of harsh government repression. More respectable "Philosphical radicals" followed the utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham and strongly supported parliamentary reform, but were generally hostile to the arguments and tactics of the"popular radicals". By the middle of the century parliamentary Radicals joined with others in the United Kingdom parliament to form the Liberals, eventua ...

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Radicalism, Radicalism - United Kingdom, Radicalism - Origins, Radicalism - Popular agitation, Radicalism - Political reform, Radicalism - Chartists, Radicalism - Liberal reforms, Radicalism - Continental Europe and Latin America

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David Henry Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts, to John and Cynthia Thoreau. He was named after a recently deceased paternal Uncle, David Thoreau. He didn't change his name to "Henry David" until he had graduated from Harvard, although he never petitioned the goverment to do so officially. He had two older siblings, Helen and John Jr, and a younger sister Sophia. [1] Bronson Alcott notes in his journal that Thoreau pronounced his family name THOR-eau, stress on the first syllable, not the last, a common error today. A Concord ...

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Henry David Thoreau, Henry David Thoreau - Life and work, Henry David Thoreau - The Walden Years: 1845-1847, Henry David Thoreau - After Walden: 1850s, Henry David Thoreau - Last years and death, Henry David Thoreau - Criticisms, Henry David Thoreau - Famous persons influenced, Henry David Thoreau - Thoreau's works, Henry David Thoreau - Online texts

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Bentham was born in Spitalfields, London, into a wealthy Tory family. He was a child prodigy and was found as a toddler sitting at his father's desk reading a multi-volume history of England. He began his study of Latin at the age of three. He went to Westminster School, and in 1760 his father sent him to Queen's College, Oxford, where he took his Bachelor's degree in 1763 and his Master's degree in 1766. He trained as a lawyer and was called to the bar in 1769. He became deeply frustrated with the complexity of the English legal code, ...

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Jeremy Bentham, Jeremy Bentham - Life, Jeremy Bentham - Works, Jeremy Bentham - Utilitarianism

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John Stuart Mill was born in Pentonville, London, the oldest son of the Scottish philosopher and historian James Mill. Mill was educated by his father, with the advice and assistance of Jeremy Bentham and Francis Place. He was given an extremely rigorous upbringing, and was deliberately shielded from association with children his own age other than his siblings. His father, a follower of Bentham and an adherent of associationism, had as his explicit aim to create a genius intellect that would carry on the cause of utilitarianism and its ...

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John Stuart Mill, John Stuart Mill - Biography, John Stuart Mill - Work, John Stuart Mill - Works

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As Darwin pressed on with his Natural Selection manuscript in December 1857, Wallace wrote to ask if it would delve into human origins. Sensitive to Lyell's fears on this, Darwin responded that "I think I shall avoid the whole subject, as so surrounded with prejudices, though I fully admit that it is the highest & most interesting problem for the naturalist". He encouraged Wallace's theorising, saying "without speculation ther ...

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Publication of Darwin's theory, Publication of Darwin's theory - Background, Publication of Darwin's theory - Wallace, Publication of Darwin's theory - Struggle for existence, Publication of Darwin's theory - Asa Gray and the young guard, Publication of Darwin's theory - The country squire, Publication of Darwin's theory - Human origins Wallace encouraged, Publication of Darwin's theory - Forestalled, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of joint paper, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of the Origin of Species, Publication of Darwin's theory - The Origins of Species goes on sale

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On January 13, 1819, he writes from 5 York Street, Covent Garden: "I now pass every morning at the India House, from half-past 10 to half-past 4, studying Indian affairs. My object is not yet attained, though I have little doubt but that it will be. It was not in the first instance of my own seeking, but was proposed to me. It will lead to a very sufficing provision for me in two or three years. It is not in the common routine of office, but is an employment of a very interesting and intellectual kind, connected with finance and legislation, in which it is possible to be of great service, not only ...

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Thomas Love Peacock, Thomas Love Peacock - Early life, Thomas Love Peacock - Friendship with Shelley, Thomas Love Peacock - East India Company, Thomas Love Peacock - Later life, Thomas Love Peacock - Works, Thomas Love Peacock - Novels, Thomas Love Peacock - Verse, Thomas Love Peacock - Essays, Thomas Love Peacock - Plays, Thomas Love Peacock - Unfinished tales and novels

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In 1832 she moved to London, where she numbered among her acquaintances Henry Hallam, Henry Hart Milman, Thomas Malthus, Monckton Milnes, Sydney Smith, Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, and later Thomas Carlyle. Until 1834 she continued to be occupied with her political economy series and with a supplemental series of Illustrations of Taxation. Four stories supporting the Whig Poor Law reforms came out about the same time. These tales, direct, lucid, written without any appearance of effort, and yet practically effective, display the characterist ...

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Harriet Martineau, Harriet Martineau - Early life, Harriet Martineau - London and the United States, Harriet Martineau - Ambleside, Harriet Martineau - Mesmerism

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John Stuart Mill was born in Pentonville, London, the eldest son of the Scottish philosopher and historian James Mill. Mill was educated by his father, with the advice and assistance of Jeremy Bentham and Francis Place. He was given an extremely rigorous upbringing, and was deliberately shielded from association with children his own age other than his siblings. His father, a follower of Bentham and an adherent of associationism, had as his explicit aim to create a genius intellect that would carry on the cause of utilitarianism and its ...

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John Stuart Mill, John Stuart Mill - Biography, John Stuart Mill - Work, John Stuart Mill - Works

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Darwin's attention turned from pigeons to seedlings, experimenting with subjecting plants to conditions which might produce variation. His family helped with this and with tracking bees, experimenting (unsuccessfully) to try to find out what would influence their flight path. His wife Emma Darwin was now known throughout the parish for helping in the way a parson's wife might be expected to, and as well as providing nursing care for her own family's frequent illnesses she gave out bread tokens to the hungry and "small pensions for the ...

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Publication of Darwin's theory, Publication of Darwin's theory - Background, Publication of Darwin's theory - Wallace, Publication of Darwin's theory - Struggle for existence, Publication of Darwin's theory - Asa Gray and the young guard, Publication of Darwin's theory - The country squire, Publication of Darwin's theory - Human origins Wallace encouraged, Publication of Darwin's theory - Forestalled, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of joint paper, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of the Origin of Species, Publication of Darwin's theory - The Origins of Species goes on sale

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Alfred Tennyson wrote Nature, Red in Tooth and Claw, and Darwin worked on The Struggle for Existence. A discussion with Thomas Huxley on how jellyfish might cross-fertilise got the witty response that "the indecency of the process is to a certain extent in favour of its probability". Darwin passed Huxley's remark on to Hooker with the comment, "What a book a Devil's Chaplain might write on the clumsy, wasteful, blundering low & horridly cruel works of Nature!", a reference to the nickname given to the Radical Revd. Robert T ...

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Publication of Darwin's theory, Publication of Darwin's theory - Background, Publication of Darwin's theory - Wallace, Publication of Darwin's theory - Struggle for existence, Publication of Darwin's theory - Asa Gray and the young guard, Publication of Darwin's theory - The country squire, Publication of Darwin's theory - Human origins Wallace encouraged, Publication of Darwin's theory - Forestalled, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of joint paper, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of the Origin of Species, Publication of Darwin's theory - The Origins of Species goes on sale

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Darwin's ideas developed rapidly from the return in 1836 of the Voyage of the Beagle. By December 1838 he had developed the principles of his theory. At that time similar ideas brought others disgrace and association with the revolutionary mob. He was conscious of the need to answer all likely objections before publishing. While he continued with research, he had an immense amount of work in hand analysing and publishing findings from ...

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Publication of Darwin's theory, Publication of Darwin's theory - Background, Publication of Darwin's theory - Wallace, Publication of Darwin's theory - Struggle for existence, Publication of Darwin's theory - Asa Gray and the young guard, Publication of Darwin's theory - The country squire, Publication of Darwin's theory - Human origins Wallace encouraged, Publication of Darwin's theory - Forestalled, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of joint paper, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of the Origin of Species, Publication of Darwin's theory - The Origins of Species goes on sale

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In the spring of 1856 Lyell was shaken by a paper on the "introduction" of species published in Annals and Magazine of Natural History written by Alfred Russel Wallace, a naturalist working in Borneo. This started Lyell rethinking his opposition to evolution, and he tipped off Darwin who appears to have taken little notice of Wallace's guarded comments at this point. Darwin was now working out a strategy for presenting his theory, and he finally spelt out the full details of Natural Selection to Lyell. While Lyell could not fully acce ...

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Publication of Darwin's theory, Publication of Darwin's theory - Background, Publication of Darwin's theory - Wallace, Publication of Darwin's theory - Struggle for existence, Publication of Darwin's theory - Asa Gray and the young guard, Publication of Darwin's theory - The country squire, Publication of Darwin's theory - Human origins Wallace encouraged, Publication of Darwin's theory - Forestalled, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of joint paper, Publication of Darwin's theory - Publication of the Origin of Species, Publication of Darwin's theory - The Origins of Species goes on sale

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