Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) was a Scottish historian, philosopher, and prolific essayist whose works had a significant impact on the intellectual landscape of the 19th century. Born in Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, Carlyle was the son of a stonemason and grew up in a strict Calvinist household. He studied at the University of Edinburgh, initially training for the ministry before deciding to pursue a literary career.
Carlyle's early work included translations of German literature, notably Goethe's "Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship," which helped popularize German Romanticism in Britain. His seminal work, "Sartor Resartus" (1836), combined fiction, philosophy, and social critique, establishing his reputation as an original thinker. "The French Revolution: A History" (1837) cemented his status as a leading historian, presenting a vivid and dramatic account of the upheaval.
Carlyle's philosophy, often termed "Carlylean," emphasized the importance of strong leadership and individual heroism, as elaborated in his series of lectures published as "On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and The Heroic in History" (1841). Despite his often pessimistic view of modern industrial society, Carlyle's writings influenced a wide range of figures, from social critics and historians to political leaders. He spent his later years in Chelsea, London, where he continued to write and engage in public discourse until his death in 1881.