William Godwin - Anarchists, Life Achievements and Family
William Godwin's Personal Details
William Godwin was a famous political philosopher, journalist and novelist
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | March 3, 1756 |
| Died on | April 7, 1836 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Anarchists, Intellectuals & Academics, Philosophers, Journalists, Writers |
| Ideologies | Anarchists |
| Spouses | Mary Wollstonecraft |
| Childrens | Mary Shelley |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Wisbech |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | John |
| Mother | Anne Godwin |
| Sun Sign | Pisces |
| Born in | Wisbech |
| Famous as | Journalist |
| Died at Age | 80 |
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William Godwin's photo
Who is William Godwin?
William Godwin was the father of philosophical anarchism, and was also a prominent a novelist and journalist. He is best-remembered for two of his works, ‘An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice’ and ‘Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams’, which received great acclamation from all around the world. Owing to the success of both of his novels, soon he became a known face in the radical circles of London. A brilliant writer, he also influenced the British culture to a great extent. The French revolution profoundly influenced the course of Godwin’s career and he gave up his position as minister of Beaconsfield, in order to give wings to his literary dreams. Godwin’s political ideas influenced great writers like Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Towards the end of his life, he concentrated on writing novels, the post popular ones being, ‘Mandeville’, ‘Cloudesley’ and ‘Deloraine’. He also wrote a collection of interesting essays on education, literary and social topics and, for some time, focused on writing children’s primers on Biblical and classical history. Today, he is remembered as one of those literary and political figures who contributed immensely in shaping British literature and culture. Explore this biography to learn more about his life and works.
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Childhood & Early Life
William Godwin was born into a middle class family in Cambridgeshire, England. His parents followed Calvinism strictly. His father who served as a Nonconformist minister in Guestwick, Norfolk passed away at a young age.
He attended the Hoxton Academy, where he studied under eminent personalities like Andrew Kippis, Robert Sandeman and Dr. Abraham Reese.
Career
He served as the minister at Ware, Stowmarket and Beaconsfield, before he left for London in 1782.
While in London, his first work, titled, ‘Life of Lord Chatham’, was published in 1783.
He authored ‘Sketches of History’, which was published in 1784. This book contained six sermons on the characters of Jesus, Aaron and Hazael.
In 1793, while the French Revolution was in full-swing, he published a full treatise on political science, titled, ‘Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness’.
‘Things as They Are; or The Adventures of Caleb Williams’ was published in 1794 which was written to popularize the ideas presented in the former book, ‘Political Justice’.
His writings laid the foundations for the mutually contradictory doctrines of communism and anarchy which could be seen in a collection of his writings ‘The Enquirer’, ‘St. Leon’, ‘Thoughts on Man: His Nature, Production, and Discoveries’, written between 1797 and 1831.
Apart from novels, he tried his hand at drama with two plays, ‘Antonio’ in 1800 and ‘Faulkener’ in 1807, both of which were unsuccessful.
He wrote a four-volume book called ‘The History of the Commonwealth’, between 1824 and 1828.
His last work was the book, ‘The Lives of the Necromancers’, which was published in 1834.
Major Works
‘Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and its influence on Morals and Happiness’ was published in 1793 and outlined Godwin’s political philosophy. This book was revered by First Generation poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The work is considered one of his masterpieces to date.
‘Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams’ was published on May 12, 1794 which is a three-volume novel. The publication attracted a great deal of positive reviews and was later staged by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Personal Life & Legacy
He married the feminist writer, Mary Wollstonecraft in 1797 and wrote a candid biography of her after her sudden death. He had a daughter, Mary Shelley Godwin, who wrote ‘Frankenstein’ and married Percy Bysshe Shelley, the poet.
He got married a second time, to Mary Jane Clairmont, who influenced him to write children’s primers on classical history.
He passed away at the age 80, on April 7, 1836, in London, England.
Trivia
This famous author often wrote children’s books under the nom de plume, ‘Edward Baldwin’.
This famous novelist lived in isolation for about 30 years because of his disreputable standing.
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William Godwin biography timelines
- // 3rd Mar 1756William Godwin was born into a middle class family in Cambridgeshire, England. His parents followed Calvinism strictly. His father who served as a Nonconformist minister in Guestwick, Norfolk passed away at a young age.
- // 1782He served as the minister at Ware, Stowmarket and Beaconsfield, before he left for London in 1782.
- // 1783While in London, his first work, titled, ‘Life of Lord Chatham’, was published in 1783.
- // 1784He authored ‘Sketches of History’, which was published in 1784. This book contained six sermons on the characters of Jesus, Aaron and Hazael.
- // 1793In 1793, while the French Revolution was in full-swing, he published a full treatise on political science, titled, ‘Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness’.
- // 1793‘Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and its influence on Morals and Happiness’ was published in 1793 and outlined Godwin’s political philosophy. This book was revered by First Generation poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The work is considered one of his masterpieces to date.
- // 1794‘Things as They Are; or The Adventures of Caleb Williams’ was published in 1794 which was written to popularize the ideas presented in the former book, ‘Political Justice’.
- // 12th May 1794‘Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams’ was published on May 12, 1794 which is a three-volume novel. The publication attracted a great deal of positive reviews and was later staged by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
- // 1797 To 1831His writings laid the foundations for the mutually contradictory doctrines of communism and anarchy which could be seen in a collection of his writings ‘The Enquirer’, ‘St. Leon’, ‘Thoughts on Man: His Nature, Production, and Discoveries’, written between 1797 and 1831.
- // 1797He married the feminist writer, Mary Wollstonecraft in 1797 and wrote a candid biography of her after her sudden death. He had a daughter, Mary Shelley Godwin, who wrote ‘Frankenstein’ and married Percy Bysshe Shelley, the poet.
- // 1800 To 1807Apart from novels, he tried his hand at drama with two plays, ‘Antonio’ in 1800 and ‘Faulkener’ in 1807, both of which were unsuccessful.
- // 1824 To 1828He wrote a four-volume book called ‘The History of the Commonwealth’, between 1824 and 1828.
- // 1834His last work was the book, ‘The Lives of the Necromancers’, which was published in 1834.
- // 7th Apr 1836He passed away at the age 80, on April 7, 1836, in London, England.
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William Godwin's FAQ
What is William Godwin birthday?
William Godwin was born at 1756-03-03
When was William Godwin died?
William Godwin was died at 1836-04-07
Where was William Godwin died?
William Godwin was died in London
Which age was William Godwin died?
William Godwin was died at age 80
Where is William Godwin's birth place?
William Godwin was born in Wisbech
What is William Godwin nationalities?
William Godwin's nationalities is British
What is William Godwin ideologies?
William Godwin's ideologies is Anarchists
Who is William Godwin spouses?
William Godwin's spouses is Mary Wollstonecraft
Who is William Godwin childrens?
William Godwin's childrens is Mary Shelley
What was William Godwin universities?
William Godwin studied at Hoxton Academy
Who is William Godwin's father?
William Godwin's father is John
Who is William Godwin's mother?
William Godwin's mother is Anne Godwin
What is William Godwin's sun sign?
William Godwin is Pisces
How famous is William Godwin?
William Godwin is famouse as Journalist