James Pierrepont Greaves

James Pierrepont Greaves ( born February 1, 1777 Merton, Surrey, † March 11, 1842 at Alcott House, Ham, Surrey (now Richmond, Greater London) ) was an English mystic, educational reformer, socialist and progressive thinkers. He founded the " Alcott House", a utopian community and open school in Surrey. Himself he described as a "holy Socialists ". He was also a representative of vegetarianism and other health practices.

Life

Born the son of a cloth merchant, he also spent his young life as a merchant in London. A source mentioned that the firm in which he was involved, went bankrupt in 1806; another witness claims: " After he had become rich by trade, he lost his fortune by careless speculation. " Then he may have built up his business again.

In 1817 he experienced " some strong inner afflictions ," which led him to believe in " the divine in man ," and the conviction that he had a spiritual mission to share God's love with other people. In 1818 he joined Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi in Yverdon, where he taught English. There he met the socialist Robert Owen.

On his return to England he founded the " London Infant School Society ". In 1832 he settled in Randwick, Gloucestershire, and devoted himself in this village with his sister to the workers in agriculture. For these years, is the self- titled " sacred socialist". Gathered again in London / he gained a lot of friends around and founded a philosophical society in 1836. His experiences led him to the belief that " education alone could never repair the defects of birth." Therefore it was necessary " that husband and wife developed a sacred existence even before the marriage ." In 1837 Greaves corresponded regularly with Amos Bronson Alcott, whose experimental Temple School in Boston he was very impressed.

From 1838 to 1848 existed its advanced school, which he had launched as part of the community " Alcott House ". Greaves had long since become a vegetarian at the time, called for water therapies, the recommended drinking water and led a celibate life. He died at age 65 without having self-published his writings as a complete work.