Richard Lovell Edgeworth

Richard Lovell Edgeworth ( born May 31, 1744 Bath, † June 13, 1817 in Edgeworthstown, Ireland) was an Irish author, engineer and reconnaissance.

Edgeworth was landowner, builder of carriages ( including the first version of a tracked vehicle ) and member of the Irish House of Commons. But was important his influence on the development of social values ​​during the early Industrial Revolution. Edgeworth maintained a personal friendship with Jean -Jacques Rousseau, whose ideas for a closer natural life he brought to the UK, focusing specifically to the education of children was considering.

His own works were, although enjoyable to read and laced with plenty of humor, without major impact on English society. It was only when he made known his friend and Oxford fellow students, the poet Thomas Day with Rousseau and his thoughts and this stood up for the idea of ​​humanistic education of children acquired these ideas the general public in the British upper class.

At the same time Edgeworth had influence on the practical application of his philanthropic thoughts. In 1766 he became a member of the Lunar Society was founded a year ago and immediately led a Thomas Day in the circle of entrepreneurs and scientists. The first factories, especially Matthew Boulton's Soho Manufactory and Josiah Wedgwood's Etruria were by their joint influence to light and philanthropic workshops where the heavy work was done by machines, and child labor was prohibited ( in the former sense).

Edgworth was married four times and had 22 children. His daughter Maria Edgeworth put in their books that were popular as her father's, his work after his death in 1817 continued.

The economist Francis Ysidro Edgeworth (1845-1926) was Edgeworth's grandson.

Edgeworth found his final resting place in the St. John 's Church in Edgeworthstown.

Writings

• The Substance of Three Speeches, delivered in the House of Commons of Ireland, February 6, March 4, and March 21, 1800, upon the subject of an union with Great Britain. London in 1800.
• An Essay on Irish Bulls. London 1801.
• Essays on professional education. London 1809.
• An essay on the construction of roads and carriages. London 1813.
• Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Maria Edgeworth: The Memoirs of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Volume 1 Hunter, Cradock & Joy, London, 1820.
• Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Maria Edgeworth: The Memoirs of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Volume 2 Hunter, Cradock & Joy, London, 1821.