William Godwin

William Godwin - Anarchists, Life Achievements and Family

Violet FieldHome › BritishWilliam GodwinMarch 3, 1756640 views

0 based on 0 rates
William Godwin Biography Stories 

William Godwin's Personal Details

William Godwin was a famous political philosopher, journalist and novelist

InformationDetail
BirthdayMarch 3, 1756
Died onApril 7, 1836
NationalityBritish
FamousAnarchists, Intellectuals & Academics, Philosophers, Journalists, Writers
IdeologiesAnarchists
SpousesMary Wollstonecraft
ChildrensMary Shelley
Universities
  • Hoxton Academy
Birth PlaceWisbech
GenderMale
FatherJohn
MotherAnne Godwin
Sun SignPisces
Born inWisbech
Famous asJournalist
Died at Age80

// Famous Philosophers

Martin Buber

Martin Buber

One of the greatest philosophers to have ever walked on earth, Martin Buber contributions to philosophy is a long-standing one. Explore all about his profile, childhood, life and timeline here.

Lao Tzu (Laozi)

Lao Tzu (Laozi)

Lao Tzu was a legendary Chinese philosopher who wrote the important “Daodejing”. This biography profiles his childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline.

Alan Watts

Alan Watts

Alan Watts was a famous British philosopher known for his Zen teachings and interpretations of Eastern philosophy. Read more about this great philosopher in the following article.

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.

// Famous Journalists

Sunny Hostin

Sunny Hostin

Sunny Hostin is an American lawyer, social commentator, columnist and journalist. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Melinda Farrell

Melinda Farrell

Melinda Farrell is an internationally renowned sports anchor and freelance sports reporter. This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, achievements, and some facts.

Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth is a FOX News Channel contributor from America. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

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.

// Famous Intellectuals & Academics

Bertil Gotthard Ohlin

Bertil Gotthard Ohlin

Bertil Gotthard Ohlin was a famous Swedish economist. This biography profiles his childhood, family life & achievements.

Emily Greene Balch

Emily Greene Balch

Emily Greene Balch was an American economist, sociologist and pacifist who won the 1946 Nobel Peace Prize. This biography of Emily Greene Balch provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Martin Buber

Martin Buber

One of the greatest philosophers to have ever walked on earth, Martin Buber contributions to philosophy is a long-standing one. Explore all about his profile, childhood, life and timeline here.

William Godwin biography timelines

  • // 3rd Mar 1756
    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.
  • // 1782
    He served as the minister at Ware, Stowmarket and Beaconsfield, before he left for London in 1782.
  • // 1783
    While in London, his first work, titled, ‘Life of Lord Chatham’, was published in 1783.
  • // 1784
    He authored ‘Sketches of History’, which was published in 1784. This book contained six sermons on the characters of Jesus, Aaron and Hazael.
  • // 1793
    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’.
  • // 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 1831
    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.
  • // 1797
    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.
  • // 1800 To 1807
    Apart 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 1828
    He wrote a four-volume book called ‘The History of the Commonwealth’, between 1824 and 1828.
  • // 1834
    His last work was the book, ‘The Lives of the Necromancers’, which was published in 1834.
  • // 7th Apr 1836
    He passed away at the age 80, on April 7, 1836, in London, England.

// Famous Writers

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin is a well-known American writer, autistic activist and animal expert. This biography profiles her childhood, life, achievements, career and timeline

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams was one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century. This biography of Tennessee Williams provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works and timeline.

Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski was a German-born American novelist, short story writer and poet. With this biography, learn in details about his childhood, life, works, career and timeline

Susan Sontag

Susan Sontag

Susan Sontag is an American critical essayist, cultural analyst, novelist, political activist, filmmaker and playwright of international repute. Read on to find out more about her childhood, career, profile and timeline.

Suze Orman

Suze Orman

Suze Orman is an American television host, financial advisor, author and motivational speaker, famous for her ‘The Suze Orman Show’ on CNBC. This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, works, achievements and timeline.

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