 |
Henry FawcettBlind British scientist, economist and politician
Date of Birth: 26.08.1833
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Henry Fawcett
Henry Fawcett was born in 1833 in Salisbury, England. He received his education first at King's College School and later at the University of Cambridge. In 1858, when Henry was 25 years old, he became blind. However, his blindness did not hinder him in his research, particularly in the field of economics.
Academic and Political Career
In 1863, Fawcett published his work, 'Manual of Political Economy'. In the same year, he became a professor of political economy at Cambridge University. Shortly after, Henry Fawcett became a recognized authority in the field of economics, and his works, such as 'The Economic Position of the British Labourer' and 'Labour and Wages', were highly sought after as textbooks.
In 1883, he was elected as the rector of Glasgow University. Fawcett experienced several failures before finally being elected to Parliament in Brighton in 1865. He held his seat until 1784 and during this time, he demonstrated himself as a thoughtful and rational politician. For example, he consistently advocated for women's suffrage.
In 1880, Fawcett was appointed as the country's Postmaster-General. It is known that during his tenure, he introduced many innovations, including parcels, postal transfers, and several improvements to enhance the capabilities of taxiphones and trunk lines.
Personal Life and Legacy
While working on women's suffrage, Henry Fawcett met Elizabeth Garrett, and in 1865, he proposed to her. However, she rejected his proposal as she was fully focused on her career as a doctor, which was a rarity for women at the time. A couple of years later, in 1867, Henry married Elizabeth's younger sister, Millicent Garrett, who was also a staunch advocate for women's rights. It is known that their only daughter, Philippa Fawcett, was born into this family.
Unfortunately, the politician and researcher Henry Fawcett did not have the opportunity to fulfill many of his extensive life plans as he passed away from tuberculosis at the age of 51 on November 6, 1884. Sir Leslie Stephen wrote his biography, 'Life of Henry Fawcett', in 1885.
