Who was Thomas Robert Malthus? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In February

Died At Age: 68

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Harriet

father: Daniel malthus

mother: Henrietta Malthus

children: Emily, Henry, Lucy

Economists British Men

Died on: December 23, 1834

place of death: Bath, England

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education: Jesus College, Cambridge, University of Cambridge

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1

What is the Malthusian theory of population?

The Malthusian theory of population, proposed by Thomas Robert Malthus, suggests that population growth will outpace the availability of resources, leading to dire consequences such as famine, disease, and poverty.
2

How did Malthus influence the field of economics?

Malthus's ideas on population growth and resource scarcity laid the foundation for the study of population economics and influenced subsequent economic theories, such as the concept of diminishing returns.
3

What was Malthus's view on the role of government in addressing population issues?

Malthus believed that government intervention in controlling population growth was necessary to prevent widespread suffering and advocated for policies like moral restraint and family planning to curb population growth.
4

How did Malthus's ideas impact the field of sociology?

Malthus's theories on population dynamics and resource constraints contributed to the development of sociological theories on demography, social inequality, and the relationship between population growth and social change.
5

What criticisms have been raised against Malthus's theory of population?

Critics of Malthus's theory argue that technological advancements, economic development, and social changes have mitigated the dire predictions of overpopulation and resource depletion, challenging the pessimistic outlook of his theory.

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Childhood & Early Life

Thomas Robert Malthus was the born to Daniel and Henrietta Malthus in Surrey England. He was the seventh child of the couple.

Young Malthus received his preliminary education at home in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire. It was only in 1782 that he enrolled at the Warrington Academy for formal education. However, to his bad luck, the Academy was shut down in 1783.

In 1784, he gained admission at Jesus College, Cambridge. While at the college in Cambridge, he mastered not only English narrative, but Latin and Greek as well.

Graduating from the same, he subsequently enrolled for a Master’s degree, which he eventually attained in 1791. Two years henceforth, he was elected as a Fellow of Jesus College.

In the year 1789, he became a curate at the Oakwood Chapel, in the parish of Wotton, Surrey, abiding by the orders of the Church of England.

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Career

In 1798, he released his most well-known work, ‘Essay on the Principle of Population’. The work though not well received then, argued the fact that the increase in the population would eventually lead to a diminished ability of the world to feed itself.

He claimed that if the rate at which population expansion took place steadied at the same pace then it would clearly overtake the rate at which land development for crops are foresighted.

The work stirred a number of arguments as it was much in contrast to the then line of belief. However, with the introduction of the Keynesian economics in the 20th century, his views and arguments began to be seen in the popular light yet again.

Coming under the spotlight, he continued to pen his ideologies and beliefs and between 1798 and 1826 he came up with six editions of ‘An Essay on the Principle of Population’.

Each edition of ‘An Essay on the Principle of Population’ was updated than the previous one and presented an updated account with new line of belief, criticism of the older one and newly found changes in the perspective. It also included pointers for the future improvement of the society at large.

In 1799, he undertook a tour of the European countries along with close friends, Edward Daniel Clarke and John Marten. Throughout the tour, he collected population data.

In 1802, he moved to France and Switzerland during the Peace of Amiens. The following year, he was appointed a rector of Walesby, Lincolnshire.

In 1805, he took the office of the Professor of History and Political Economy at the East India Company College in Hertfordshire, thus becoming the first ever to hold the academic office. It was there that he earned the nickname, ‘Pop’ or ‘Population’ Malthus due to his works.

In 1818, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society. During the beginning of the 1820s decade, he was a part of the discussion forum ‘Malthus-Ricardo debate’ wherein both of them presented their views and proponents of the political economy. They even discussed about the nature and value of rent

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In 1821, he was the founding member of the Political Economy Club. Three years later, he was elected as one of the ten royal associates of the Royal Society of Literature.

In 1834, he was chosen as one of the first fellows of the Statistical Society that was founded the same year.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1804, he got married to Harriet, daughter of John Eckersall of Claverton House, St. Catherine's, near Bath, Somerset. The couple was blessed with two children, a son and daughter.

His son, Henry rose to the rank of a Vicar of Effingham, Surrey, in 1835, and of Donnington, West Sussex, in 1837.

He died an untimely death on December 23, 1834 at his father-in-law’s house. He was interred at Bath Abbey

Facts About Thomas Robert Malthus

Thomas Robert Malthus had a passion for botany and was a skilled gardener.

Malthus was known for his love of literature and poetry, and he frequently incorporated literary references into his writings on population and economics.

Despite his controversial theories on population growth, Malthus was respected for his dedication to improving social welfare and advocating for policies to alleviate poverty.

Malthus had a keen interest in travel and exploration, which influenced his perspectives on global population trends and resource distribution.

In addition to his academic work, Malthus was actively involved in charitable and philanthropic endeavors, demonstrating a commitment to helping those in need.

Thomas Robert Malthus Biography

You wanted to know

What is the Malthusian theory of population?

How did Malthus influence the field of economics?

What was Malthus's view on the role of government in addressing population issues?

How did Malthus's ideas impact the field of sociology?

What criticisms have been raised against Malthus's theory of population?