Thomas Carlyle
Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher (1795–1881), the "sage of Chelsea" of Victorian letters.
At a glance
Main ideas
The Great Man theory, Natural Supernaturalism, The Condition-of-England Question …
See all 5Books to start with
Sartor Resartus, The French Revolution: A History, On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History …
See all 5Connections
Jane Welsh Carlyle, John Stuart Mill and 5 others
See all 7
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Carlyle was a Scottish writer whose work strongly influenced Victorian intellectual and artistic culture.
- He first became known for writing on German Romantic literature and philosophy, then became a celebrity with The French Revolution: A History in 1837.
- He put forward the Great Man theory of history and criticised utilitarianism and laissez-faire economics, which he called the "Dismal Science".
- He defended slavery and held racist and antisemitic views, for which he is criticised today.
- His reputation fell after the world wars, when his ideas were seen as precursors of Prussianism and fascism.
Why it matters
- In his lifetime he was called the "undoubted head of English letters"; his On Heroes is the classic statement of the Great Man theory of history.
Key facts
- Born
- 4 Dec 1795, Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland1
- Died
- 5 Feb 1881, London; buried in Hoddam Kirkyard, Ecclefechan1
- Education
- University of Edinburgh, from 1809; credited with inventing the Carlyle circle in geometry1
- Married
- Jane Welsh, October 18261
- Home
- 5 Cheyne Row, Chelsea, from June 18341
- Founded
- The London Library; he helped establish the National Portrait Galleries in London and Edinburgh1
- Lord Rector
- University of Edinburgh, from 18651
- Honours
- Accepted the Pour le Mérite in 1874; declined Disraeli's offers of a state pension and the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath1
Main ideas
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The Great Man theory1
History is shaped by exceptional individuals, first argued in his lectures On Heroes.
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Natural Supernaturalism1
All things are "Clothes" that at once reveal and conceal the divine; duty, work and silence are essential.
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The Condition-of-England Question1
He asked what the Industrial Revolution was doing to England, and called for a "Chivalry of Labour" led by "Captains of Industry".
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The Dismal Science1
He called laissez-faire political economy the "Dismal Science" and utilitarianism mere atheism and egoism.
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Belief in an age of doubt1
He asserted the importance of belief, and was the first writer to use the expression "meaning of life".
Books to start with
The line under a date fills as it gets older: empty when new, full at 2 years.
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Sartor Resartus1
A semi-autobiographical philosophical novel, serialised from 1833 to 1834.
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The French Revolution: A History1
The book that made him a celebrity.
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On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History1
Six lectures on great men in history.
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Past and Present1
Social criticism of industrial England.
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History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great1
His long history of Frederick the Great, published from 1858 to 1865.
Connections
Related
- Jane Welsh CarlyleHis wife
- John Stuart MillPersonFriend in the 1830s; Mill's housemaid burned the manuscript of the first volume of The French Revolution
- Essays: First SeriesBookReviewers noted his influence on the book
- John RuskinPersonRuskin called Carlyle his "master"; Carlyle urged him towards political and economic work
- Ralph Waldo EmersonPersonMet in 1833; a strong influence; they corresponded until Carlyle's death in 1881
- Unto This LastBookRuskin said Carlyle had "led the way" with his critique of laissez-faire; Carlyle praised the essays
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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