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==Background and education==
==Background and education==
Fawcett was born in [[Salisbury]], and educated at [[King's College School]] and the [[University of Cambridge]]: entering [[Peterhouse, Cambridge|Peterhouse]] in 1852, he migrated to [[Trinity Hall, Cambridge|Trinity Hall]] the following year, and became a fellow there in 1856, the year he graduated BA as 7th [[Wrangler (University of Cambridge)|Wrangler]].<ref>{{Venn|id=FWCT852H|name=Fawcett, Henry}}</ref> In 1858, when he was 25, he was blinded in a shooting accident. Despite his blindness, he continued with his studies, especially in [[economics]]. He was able to enter [[Lincon's Inn]] but decided aganist a career as a barrister and took his name off their books in 1860.<ref>{{cite book | title=The Blind Victorian: Henry Fawcett and British Liberalism | first=Lawrence | last=Goldman | publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] | year=2003 | isbn=0521892740 | page=94}}</ref>
Fawcett was born in [[Salisbury]], and educated at [[King's College School]] and the [[University of Cambridge]]: entering [[Peterhouse, Cambridge|Peterhouse]] in 1852, he migrated to [[Trinity Hall, Cambridge|Trinity Hall]] the following year, and became a fellow there in 1856, the year he graduated BA as 7th [[Wrangler (University of Cambridge)|Wrangler]].<ref>{{Venn|id=FWCT852H|name=Fawcett, Henry}}</ref> In 1858, when he was 25, he was blinded in a shooting accident. Despite his blindness, he continued with his studies, especially in [[economics]]. He was able to enter [[Lincoln's Inn]] but decided against a career as a barrister and took his name off their books in 1860.<ref>{{cite book | title=The Blind Victorian: Henry Fawcett and British Liberalism | first=Lawrence | last=Goldman | publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] | year=2003 | isbn=0521892740 | page=94}}</ref>


==Academic career==
==Academic career==
Two years later, Fawcett reportedly attended the [[1860 Oxford evolution debate]], during which he was asked whether he thought the bishop had actually read the ''[[Origin of Species]]''. Reportedly, Fawcett replied loudly, "Oh no, I would swear he has never read a word of it". Ready to recriminate, Wilberforce swung round to him scowling, but stepped back and bit his tongue on noting that the protagonist was the blind economist.<ref>Janet Browne, ''Charles Darwin: The Power of Place'', 2003, p. 126.</ref> At the next, September, 1861, meeting of the British Association in Manchester, Fawcett defended the logic behind [[Charles Darwin]]'s theories.<ref>London Illustrated News,Sept. 16, 1861,p279</ref> This significantly affected its acceptance. In 1863 Fawcett published his ''Manual of Political Economy''. In the same year he became [[Professor of Political Economy, Cambridge University|Professor of Political Economy]] at Cambridge. He made himself a recognised authority on economics, his works on which include ''The Economic Position of the British Labourer'' (1871) and ''Labour and Wages''. In 1883 he was elected [[Rector of Glasgow University]].
Two years later, Fawcett reportedly attended the [[1860 Oxford evolution debate]], during which he was asked whether he thought the bishop had actually read the ''[[Origin of Species]]''. Reportedly, Fawcett replied loudly, "Oh no, I would swear he has never read a word of it". Ready to recriminate, Wilberforce swung round to him scowling, but stepped back and bit his tongue on noting that the protagonist was the blind economist.<ref>Janet Browne, ''Charles Darwin: The Power of Place'', 2003, p. 126.</ref> At the next meeting (in September 1861) of the [[British Association]] in Manchester, Fawcett defended the logic behind [[Charles Darwin]]'s theories.<ref>London Illustrated News,Sept. 16, 1861,p279</ref> This significantly affected its acceptance. In 1863 Fawcett published his ''Manual of Political Economy''. In the same year he became [[Professor of Political Economy, Cambridge University|Professor of Political Economy]] at Cambridge. He made himself a recognised authority on economics, his works on which include ''The Economic Position of the British Labourer'' (1871) and ''Labour and Wages''. In 1883 he was elected [[Rector of Glasgow University]].


==Political career==
==Political career==
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==Family==
==Family==
Through his campaigning for women's [[suffrage]], Fawcett met [[Elizabeth Garrett Anderson|Elizabeth Garrett]], to whom he proposed in 1865. She rejected the proposal to concentrate on becoming a doctor at a time when women doctors were extremely rare. However, in 1867 Fawcett married her younger sister [[Millicent Fawcett|Millicent Garrett]] in 1867.<ref>[http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WfawcettM.htm Millicent Garrett Fawcett] - Spartacus Educational</ref><ref>The Passing Parade with John Doremus, Evening with Ian Holland, Radio [[2CH]] 20:40 [[AEST]] 3 August 2007.</ref> They had one child, [[Philippa Fawcett]]. Fawcett's career was cut short by his premature death from [[pleurisy]] in November 1884, aged 51. There are statues of him in Salisbury Market Square and in Victoria Embankment Gardens near [[Charing Cross]] in central [[London]]. Sir Leslie Stephen wrote a biography of him, ''Life of Henry Fawcett'', in 1885.
Through his campaigning for women's [[suffrage]], Fawcett met [[Elizabeth Garrett Anderson|Elizabeth Garrett]], to whom he proposed in 1865. She rejected the proposal to concentrate on becoming a doctor at a time when women doctors were extremely rare. However, in 1867 Fawcett married her younger sister [[Millicent Fawcett|Millicent Garrett]] in 1867.<ref>[http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WfawcettM.htm Millicent Garrett Fawcett] - Spartacus Educational</ref><ref>The Passing Parade with John Doremus, Evening with Ian Holland, Radio [[2CH]] 20:40 [[AEST]] 3 August 2007.</ref> They had one child, [[Philippa Fawcett]]. Fawcett's career was cut short by his premature death from [[pleurisy]] in November 1884, aged 51. There are statues of him in Salisbury Market Square and in Victoria Embankment Gardens near [[Charing Cross]] in central [[London]]. Sir [[Leslie Stephen]] wrote a biography of him, ''Life of Henry Fawcett'', in 1885.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Blind academics]]
[[Category:Blind academics]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Members of Lincoln's Inn]]


[[de:Henry Fawcett]]
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Revision as of 22:33, 8 June 2011

Henry Fawcett

PC
Henry Fawcett and Millicent Garrett Fawcett by Ford Madox Brown, 1872, National Portrait Gallery, London.
Postmaster General
In office
3 May 1880 – 6 November 1884
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Preceded byLord John Manners
Succeeded byGeorge Shaw-Lefevre
Personal details
Born26 August 1833 (1833-08-26)
Salisbury
Died6 November 1884 (1884-11-07)
NationalityBritish
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Millicent Garrett
(1847-1929)
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge

Henry Fawcett PC (26 August 1833 – 6 November 1884) was a blind British academic, statesman and economist.[1]

Background and education

Fawcett was born in Salisbury, and educated at King's College School and the University of Cambridge: entering Peterhouse in 1852, he migrated to Trinity Hall the following year, and became a fellow there in 1856, the year he graduated BA as 7th Wrangler.[2] In 1858, when he was 25, he was blinded in a shooting accident. Despite his blindness, he continued with his studies, especially in economics. He was able to enter Lincoln's Inn but decided against a career as a barrister and took his name off their books in 1860.[3]

Academic career

Two years later, Fawcett reportedly attended the 1860 Oxford evolution debate, during which he was asked whether he thought the bishop had actually read the Origin of Species. Reportedly, Fawcett replied loudly, "Oh no, I would swear he has never read a word of it". Ready to recriminate, Wilberforce swung round to him scowling, but stepped back and bit his tongue on noting that the protagonist was the blind economist.[4] At the next meeting (in September 1861) of the British Association in Manchester, Fawcett defended the logic behind Charles Darwin's theories.[5] This significantly affected its acceptance. In 1863 Fawcett published his Manual of Political Economy. In the same year he became Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge. He made himself a recognised authority on economics, his works on which include The Economic Position of the British Labourer (1871) and Labour and Wages. In 1883 he was elected Rector of Glasgow University.

Political career

1881 Cartoon from Punch: "PROFESSOR FAWCETT, M.P and P.M.G., A Politician of a certain stamp, and President of the Republic of Letters at St. Martin-le-Grand's"

After repeated defeats Fawcett was elected Member of Parliament for Brighton in 1865. He held this seat until 1874, and thereafter represented Hackney between 1874 and 1884. He campaigned for women's suffrage. In 1880 he was appointed Postmaster-General by William Ewart Gladstone and sworn of the Privy Council.[6] He introduced many innovations, including parcel post, postal orders, and licensing changes to permit payphones and trunk lines.

Family

Through his campaigning for women's suffrage, Fawcett met Elizabeth Garrett, to whom he proposed in 1865. She rejected the proposal to concentrate on becoming a doctor at a time when women doctors were extremely rare. However, in 1867 Fawcett married her younger sister Millicent Garrett in 1867.[7][8] They had one child, Philippa Fawcett. Fawcett's career was cut short by his premature death from pleurisy in November 1884, aged 51. There are statues of him in Salisbury Market Square and in Victoria Embankment Gardens near Charing Cross in central London. Sir Leslie Stephen wrote a biography of him, Life of Henry Fawcett, in 1885.

References

  1. ^ "University of Glasgow,Biography of Henry Fawcett". Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  2. ^ "Fawcett, Henry (FWCT852H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ Goldman, Lawrence (2003). The Blind Victorian: Henry Fawcett and British Liberalism. Cambridge University Press. p. 94. ISBN 0521892740.
  4. ^ Janet Browne, Charles Darwin: The Power of Place, 2003, p. 126.
  5. ^ London Illustrated News,Sept. 16, 1861,p279
  6. ^ "No. 24841". The London Gazette. 4 May 1880.
  7. ^ Millicent Garrett Fawcett - Spartacus Educational
  8. ^ The Passing Parade with John Doremus, Evening with Ian Holland, Radio 2CH 20:40 AEST 3 August 2007.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London: J. M. Dent & Sons – via Wikisource.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henry Fawcett (1833-1884).
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Brighton
1865 – 1874
With: James White 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hackney
1874 – 1884
With: John Holms 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Postmaster General
1880–1884 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Rector of the University of Glasgow
1883–1884 		Succeeded by

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