About
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a British philosopher and political economist, a major figure of liberalism and utilitarianism. Intensively educated by his father, he experienced a mental crisis at twenty, overcome partly through Romantic poetry. He worked for the British East India Company and later became a Liberal MP. His work, influenced by his wife Harriet Taylor, defended individual liberty, women's suffrage, and a qualitative utilitarian ethics. His writings, including 'On Liberty' and 'The Subjection of Women', have profoundly influenced political and moral thought.
Major works
- A System of Logic (1843)philosophical treatise
- Principles of Political Economy (1848)political economy treatise
- On Liberty (1859)essay
- Utilitarianism (1863)philosophical essay
- The Subjection of Women (1869)essay
Key milestones
- 1826Suffered a severe mental crisis (depression) around age twenty.
- 1851Married Harriet Taylor, who deeply influenced his social and political philosophy.
- 1865Elected Liberal MP for Westminster, serving until 1868.
Themes
Individual libertyUtilitarianismGender equalityRepresentative governmentFreedom of expression
Sources: plato.stanford.edu · plato.stanford.edu · npg.org.uk