William Godwin Biography

(Journalist)

Birthday: March 3, 1756 (Pisces)

Born In: Wisbech

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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Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In March

Died At Age: 80

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Mary Jane Clairmont (m. 1801), Mary Wollstonecraft (m. 1797–1797)

father: John

mother: Anne Godwin

children: Mary Shelley

Writers Philosophers

Died on: April 7, 1836

place of death: London

Ideology: Anarchists

More Facts

education: Hoxton Academy

  • 1

    What are the key philosophical ideas of William Godwin?

    William Godwin was a prominent political philosopher who is best known for his belief in rationalism, anarchism, and utilitarianism. He argued for the idea of individual freedom and the abolition of government as a means to achieve a just society.

  • 2

    How did William Godwin influence other prominent thinkers?

    William Godwin's ideas had a significant impact on other influential thinkers of his time, such as Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Shelley. His writings on political philosophy and radical social reform inspired many to rethink the existing social and political structures.

  • 3

    What is the significance of William Godwin's work "Enquiry Concerning Political Justice?"

    William Godwin's work "Enquiry Concerning Political Justice" is considered a seminal text in the history of political philosophy. In this book, he argues for the principles of individual liberty, equality, and justice, laying the groundwork for later anarchist and socialist thought.

  • 4

    How did William Godwin's views on education differ from the traditional methods of his time?

    William Godwin was a proponent of progressive education and believed in the importance of individualized learning. He advocated for a system that focused on critical thinking, creativity, and self-discovery, in contrast to the more rigid and authoritarian educational practices of his era.

  • 5

    What was William Godwin's stance on the role of government in society?

    William Godwin was a staunch critic of government and believed that it was the source of oppression and inequality. He argued for the abolition of the state and the establishment of a society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid, emphasizing the importance of individual autonomy and self-governance.

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.
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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.
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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.
Facts About William Godwin

William Godwin, a prominent English philosopher and writer, was known for his unconventional views on marriage and relationships. He believed in the concept of "free love" and advocated for individuals to form relationships based on mutual respect and understanding.

Godwin's groundbreaking work, "An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice," challenged traditional notions of government and argued for a more egalitarian and decentralized society. His ideas laid the foundation for modern anarchist thought.

Despite being a staunch advocate for rationality and reason, Godwin was also deeply interested in the supernatural and paranormal. He was known to have dabbled in occult practices and believed in the existence of supernatural phenomena.

Godwin's daughter, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, went on to become a renowned writer in her own right, known for her groundbreaking work "Frankenstein." The father-daughter duo shared a strong bond and influenced each other's intellectual pursuits.

In addition to his philosophical and literary pursuits, Godwin was also a prolific journalist and essayist. He contributed to various newspapers and magazines of his time, using his platform to advocate for social and political reform.

See the events in life of William Godwin in Chronological Order

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