A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and Nations

Part 32

Chapter 323,841 wordsPublic domain

Wright (Susannah), one of Carlile's shopwomen. Tried 14 Nov. 1822, for selling pamphlets by Carlile. She made a good defence, in the course of which she was continually interrupted.

Wundt (Wilhelm Max), German scientist, b. Neckaran (Baden), 16 Aug. 1832. His father was a clergyman. He studied medicine at Tübingen, Heidelberg, and Berlin, and became professor of physiology at Heidelberg in '64, and has since held chairs at Zurich and Leipsic. His principal works are Principles of Physiological Psychology, '74; Manual of Human Physiology; Logic, '83; Essays, '85; Ethik, '86.

Wuensch (Christian Ernest), German physician, b. Hohenstein, 1744. Was Professor of Mathematics and Physics in Frankfort on the Oder, 1828.

Wyrouboff (Gr.), Count; Russian Positivist, who established the Revue de Philosophie Positive with Littré, and edited it with him from 1867-83.

Xenophanes, Greek philosopher, b. Colophon, about 600 B.C. He founded the Eleatic school, and wrote a poem on Nature and Eleaticism, in which he ridiculed man making gods in his own image.

Ximines (Augustin Louis), Marquis de, French writer, b. Paris, 26 Feb. 1726. Was an intimate friend of Voltaire, and wrote several plays. Died Paris, 31 May, 1817.

York (J. L.), American lecturer, b. New York, 1830. He became a blacksmith, then a Methodist minister, then Unitarian, and finally Freethought advocate. He was for some years member of the California Legislature, and has made lecturing tours in Australia and through the States.

Yorke (J. F.), author of able Notes on Evolution and Christianity, London, 1882.

Youmans (Edward Livingstone), American scientist, b. Coeymans, N.Y., 3 June, 1821. Though partially blind he was a great student. He became M.D. about 1851, and began to lecture on science, popularly expounding the doctrines of the conservation of energy and evolution. He popularised Herbert Spencer, planned the "International Scientific Series," and in '72 established the Popular Science Monthly, in which he wrote largely. Died at New York, 18 Jan. 1887.

Zaborowski Moindrin (Sigismond), French scientific writer, b. La Créche, 1851. Has written on The Antiquity of Man, '74; Pre-historic Man, '78; Origin of Languages, '79; The Great Apes, '81; Scientific Curiosities, '83.

Zambrini (Francesco), Italian writer, b. Faenza, 25 Jan. 1810. Educated at Ravenna and Bologna. He devoted himself to literature and produced a great number of works. Died 9 July, 1887.

Zarco (Francisco), Mexican journalist, b. Durango, 4 Dec. 1829. Edited El Siglo XIX and La Ilustracion, in which he used the pen-name of "Fortun." He was elected to Congress in '55, and imprisoned by the reactionaries in '60. Juarez made him Secretary of State and President of Council. He was a friend of Gagern. Died Mexico, 29 Dec. 1869.

Zeller (Eduard), German critic, b. Kleinbottwar (Würtemberg), 22 Jan. 1814. Studied theology at Tübingen and Berlin, became professor at Berne, '47. He married a daughter of Baur; gave up theology for philosophy, of which he has been professor at Berlin since '72. Has written a memoir of Strauss, '74; Outlines of the History of Greek Philosophy, '83; Frederick the Great as a Philosopher, '86; and other important works.

Zijde (Karel van der), Dutch writer, b. Overschie, 13 July, 1838. Has been teacher at Rotterdam. Under the pen-name of M. F. ten Bergen he wrote The Devil's Burial, 1874. Besides this he has written many literary articles, and is now teacher of Dutch and German at Zaandam.

Zimmern (Helen), b. Hamburg, 25 March, 1846. Has lived in England since '50, and is naturalised. She has written lives of Schopenhauer and Lessing, and a paraphrase of Firdusi's Shah Nahmeh.

Zola (Emile), French novelist, b. of Italian father, Paris, 2 April, 1840. By his powerful collection of romances known as Les Rougon Macquart, he made himself the leader of the "naturalist" school, which claims to treat fiction scientifically, representing life as it is without the ideal.

Zorrilla (Manuel Ruiz), Spanish statesman, b. Burgo-de-Osma, 1834, became a lawyer, and in '56 was returned to the Cortes by the Progressive party. For a brochure against the Neo-Catholics he was prosecuted. In '70 he became President of the Cortes, and has since been exiled for his Republicanism.

Zouteveen (H. H. H. van). See Hartogh.

Zuppetta (Luigi), Italian jurist and patriot, b. Castelnuovo, 21 June, 1810. He studied at Naples, took part in the democratic movement of '48, was exiled and returned in 1860, and has been Professor of Penal Law in the University of Pavia.

SUPPLEMENT.

Those which have already appeared are marked *

Abd al Hakk ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Sabin. See Sabin.

Abu Abd'allah Muhammad ibn Massara al Jabali. Arabian pantheist b. 881. He lived at Cordova in Spain and studied the works of Empedocles and other Greek philosophers. Accused of impiety, he left Spain and travelled through the East. Returned to Spain and collected disciples whom he led to scepticism. He was the most eminent predecessor of Ibn Rushd or Averroes. Died Oct. 931. His works were publicly burned at Seville.

* Acosta (Uriel), the name of his work was Examen Traditorum Philosophicarum ad legem Scriptam.

Acuna (Rosario de), Spanish writer and lecturess, b. Madrid about 1854. Contributes to Las Dominicales of Madrid. Has written The Doll's House, and other educational works.

* Adams (Robert C.), American Freethought writer and lecturer, the son of the Rev. Needham Adams, b. Boston 1839. He became a sea-captain, and was afterwards shipper at Montreal. Has written in Secular Thought, the Truthseeker and the Freethinker's Magazine, and published rational lectures under the title Pioneer Pith, '89. In '89 he was elected President of the Canadian Secular Union.

Admiraal (Aart), Dutch writer, b. Goedereede, 13 Oct. 1833. At first a schoolmaster, he became in '60 director of the telegraph bureau at Schoonhoven. He wrote from '56 for many years in De Dageraad over the anagram "Aramaldi." In '67 he published The Religion of the People under the pseudonym "Bato van der Maas," a name he used in writing to many periodicals. A good mind and heart with but feeble constitution. He died 12 Nov. 1878.

Airoldi (J.) Italian lawyer, b. Lugano (Switzerland), 1829; a poet and writer of talent.

Albaida (Don Jose M. Orense), Spanish nobleman (marquis), one of the founders of the Republican party. Was expelled for his principles; returned to Spain, and was president of the Cortes in 1869.

* Alchindus. Died about 864.

* Aleardi had better be deleted. I am now told he was a Christian.

Alfarabi. See Alpharabius.

Algeri (Pomponio), a youth of Nola. Studied at Padua, and was accused of heresy and Atheism, and burnt alive in a cauldron of boiling oil, pitch, and turpentine at Rome in 1566.

Alkemade (A. de Mey van), Dutch nobleman, who contributed to De Dageraad, and also published a work containing many Bible contradictions, 1862; and in '59 a work on the Bible under the pen name "Alexander de M."

Allais (Denis de). See Vairasse.

Allais (Giovanni), Italian doctor, b. Casteldelfino, 1847.

Almquist (Herman), Swedish, b. 1839, orientalist; professor of philology at the University of Upsala. An active defender of new ideas and Freethought.

Altmeyer (Jean Jacques), Belgian author, b. Luxembourg, 20 Jan. 1804. Was professor at the University of Brussels. He wrote an Introduction to the Philosophical Study of the History of Humanity, '36, and other historical works. Died 15 Sept. 1877.

Amari (Michele), Sicilian historian and orientalist, b. Palmero, 7 July, 1806. In '32 he produced a version of Scott's Marmion. He wrote a standard History of the Musulmen in Sicily. After the landing of Garibaldi, he was made head of public instruction in the island. He took part in the anti-clerical council of '69. Died at Florence, July 1889.

* Amaury de Chartres. According to L'Abbè Ladvocat his disciples maintained that the sacraments were useless, and that there was no other heaven than the satisfaction of doing right, nor any other hell than ignorance and sin.

Anderson (Marie), Dutch lady Freethinker, b. the Hague, 2 Aug. 1842. She has written many good articles in de Dageraad, and was for some time editress of a periodical De Twintigste Eeuw (the twentieth century). She has also written some novels. She resides now at Würzburg, Germany, and contributes still to de Dageraad. As pen-name she formerly used that of "Mevrouw Quarlès" and now "Dr. Al. Dondorf."

* Anthero de Quental. This name would be better under Quental.

Apono. See Petrus de Abano. This would probably be best under Abano.

* Aquila. Justinian forbade the Jews to read Aquila's version of the Scriptures.

Aranda (Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea), Count, Spanish statesman, b. of illustrious family, Saragossa, 18 Dec. 1718. Was soldier and ambassador to Poland. He imbibed the ideas of the Encyclopædists, and contributed to the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain in 1767. He also disarmed the Inquisition. In 1792 he was elected Spanish minister to France. He was recalled and exiled to Aragon, where he died in 1799.

Argilleres (Antoine), at first a Jacobin monk and afterwards a Protestant preacher, was tortured several times, then decapitated and his head nailed to a gibbet at Geneva, 1561-2, for having eight years previously taken the part of Servetus against Calvin at Pont-de-Veyle in Bresse.

* Arnould (Victor). Has continued his Tableau in the Positivist Revue and La Societé Nouvelle. From 1868 to '73 he edited La Liberté, in which many a battle for Freethought has been fought.

Ascarate (Gumezindo de), Spanish professor of law at the University of Madrid and Republican deputy, b. Leon about 1844. One of the ablest Radical parliamentary orators; in philosophy, he is a follower of Krause. He has written Social Studies, Self-Government and Monarchy, and other political works.

Aszo y Del Rio (Ignacio Jordan de), Spanish jurist and naturalist, b. Saragossa, 1742. Was professor at Madrid, and left many important works on various branches of science. In his political works he advocated the abolition of ecclesiastical power. Died 1814.

* Aubert de Verse (Noel) had probably better be omitted, although accused of blasphemy himself, I find he wrote an answer to Spinoza, which I have not been able to see.

Auerbach (Berthold), German novelist of Jewish extraction, b. Nordstetten, 28 Feb. 1812. Devoted to Spinoza, in '41 he published a life of the philosopher and a translation of his works, having previously published an historical romance on the same subject. Died Cannes, 8 Feb. 1882.

* Aymon (Jean). La vie et L'Esprit de M. Benoit Spinoza (La Haye, 1719) was afterwards issued under the famous title Treatise of Three Impostors.

* Bahrdt (Karl Friedrich). The writings of this enfant terrible of the German Aufklarung fill 120 volumes.

* Bailey (William Shreeve) was born 10 Feb. 1806. He suffered much on account of his opinions. Died Nashville, 20 Feb 1886. Photius Fisk erected a monument to his memory.

* Bancel (Francis Désiré). In his work Les Harangues de l'Exil, 3 vols., 1863, his Freethought views are displayed. He also wrote in La Revue Critique.

Barnaud (Nicolas), of Crest in Dauphiné. Lived during the latter half of the sixteenth century. He travelled in France, Spain, and Germany, and to him is attributed the authorship of a curious work entitled Le Cabinet du Roy de France, which is largely directed against the clergy.

Barreaux. See des Barreaux.

Barth (Ferdinand), b. Mureck, Steyermark Austria, 1828. In '48 he attained reputation as orator to working men and took part in the revolution. When Vienna was retaken he went to Leipzig and Zurich, where he died in 1850, leaving a profession of his freethought.

Bartrina, Spanish Atheistic poet, b. Barcelona, 1852, where he died in 1880.

Bedingfield (Richard, W. T.), Pantheistic writer, b. May, 1823, wrote in National Reformer as B.T.W.R., established Freelight, '70. Died 14 Feb. 1876.

* Berigardus (Claudius), b. 15 Aug. 1578.

* Bertillon (Louis Adolphe). In a letter to Bp. Dupanloup, April, '68, he said, You hope to die a Catholic, I hope to die a Freethinker. Died 1883.

* Berwick (George J.) M.D., Dr. Berwick, I am informed, was the author of the tracts issued by Thomas Scott of Ramsgate with the signature of "Presbyter Anglicanus."

Blein (F. A. A.), Baron, French author of Essais Philosophiques, Paris, 1843.

Blum (Robert), German patriot and orator, b. Cologne, 10 Nov. 1807. He took an active part in progressive political and religious movements, and published the Christmas Tree and other publications. In '48 he became deputy to the Frankfort Parliament and head of the Republican party. He was one of the promoters at the insurrection of Vienna, and showed great bravery in the fights of the students with the troops. Shot at Vienna, 9 Nov. 1848.

* Blumenfleld (J. C.), this name I suspect to be a pseudonym.

Bolin (A. W.), a philosophic writer of Finland, b. 2 Aug. 1835. Studied at Helsingford, '52, and became Doctor of Philosophy in '66, and Professor in '73. He has written on the Freedom of the Will, The Political Doctrines of Philosophy, etc. A subject of Russian Finland; he has been repeatedly troubled by the authorities for his radical views on religious questions.

Bolivar (Ignacio), Spanish professor of natural history at the University of Madrid, and one of the introducers of Darwinian ideas.

Boppe (Herman C.), editor of Freidenker of Milwaukee, U.S.A.

Borsari (Ferdinand), Italian geographer, b. Naples, author of a work of the literature of American aborigines, and a zealous propagator of Freethought.

Bostrom (Christopher Jacob), Swedish Professor at Upsala, b. 4 Jan. 1797. Besides many philosophical works, published trenchant criticism of the Christian hell creed. Died 22 March, 1866.

Boucher (E. Martin), b. Beaulieu 1809. Conducted the Rationaliste at Geneva, where he died 1882. His work Search for the Truth was published at Avignon, 1884.

Bourneville (Magloire Désir), French deputy and physician, b. Garancières, 21 Oct. 1840. Studied medicine at Paris, and in '79 was appointed physician to the asylum of Bicêtre. He was Municipal Councillor of Paris from '76 to '83. On the death of Louis Blanc he was elected deputy in his place. Wrote Science and Miracle, '75; Hysteria in History, '76; and a discourse on Etienne Dolet at the erection of the statue to that martyr, 18 May 1889.

Boutteville (Marc Lucien), French writer, professor at the Lycee Bonaparte. Wrote to Dupanloup on his pamphlet against Atheism, 1867; wrote in La Pensée Nouvelle, '68; is author of a large and able work on the Morality of the Church and Natural Morality, '66; and has edited the posthumous works of Proudhon, 1870.

* Bovio (Giovanni), b. Trani, 1838, Dr. of law and advocate. Author of a dramatic piece, Cristo alla festa di Purim, and of a History of Law in Italy. Signor Bovio delivered the address at unveiling the monument to Bruno at Rome, 9 June, 1889.

Boyer. See Argens.

* Bradlaugh (Charles), M.P. In April, 1889, he introduced a Bill to repeal the Blasphemy Laws.

Braga (Teofilo), Portuguese Positivist, b. 24 Feb. 1843. Educated at Coimbra. Has written many poems, and a History of Portuguese Literature. Is one of the Republican leaders.

Branting (Hjalmar), Swedish Socialist, b. 1860. Sentenced in '88 to three months' imprisonment for blasphemy in his paper Social Democraten.

Braun (Eugen), Dr. See F. W. Ghillany.

Braun (Wilhelm von), Swedish humoristic poet, b. 1813. He satirised many of the Bible stories. Died 1860.

Brewer (Ebenezer Cobham), English author. Has written numerous school books, and compiled a Dictionary of Miracles, 1884.

Brismee (Desiré), Belgian printer, b. Ghent, 27 July, 1822. As editor of Le Drapeau he underwent eighteen months' imprisonment. The principle founder of Les Solidaires, he was the life-long secretary of that society, and his annual reports are a valuable contribution towards the history of Freethought in Belgium. An eloquent speaker, many of his Freethought orations were printed in La Tribune du Peuple. Died at Brussels 18 Feb. 1888.

* Brothier (Léon). Died about 1874.

* Brown (G. W.) Dr. Brown's new work is published at Rockford, Illinois, and entitled Researches in Jewish History, including the rise and development of Zoroastrianism and the derivation of Christianity.

* Bruno (Giordano), b. Nola, 21 March, 1548. The Avisso di Roma of 19 Feb. 1600, records the fact of his being burnt, and that he died impenitent. Signor Mariotti, State Secretary to the Minister of Public Instruction, has found a document proving that Bruno was stripped naked, bound to a pole, and burnt alive, and that he bore his martyrdom with great fortitude.

Buen (Odon de), Spanish writer on Las Dominicales, of Madrid, b. Aragon, 1884. Professor of Natural History at the University of Barcelona. Has written an account of a scientific expedition From Christiania to Treggurt, has translated Memoirs of Garibaldi. He married civilly the daughter of F. Lozano, and was delegate to the Paris Freethought Conference, 1889.

Calderon (Alfredo), Spanish journalist and lawyer, b. 1852. He edits La Justicia. Has written several books on law.

Calderon (Lauresmo), Professor of Chemistry in the University of Madrid, b. 1848. Is a propagator of Darwinian ideas.

Calderon (Salvador), Spanish geologist and naturalist, b. 1846; professor at the University of Seville. Has made scientific travels in Central America, and written largely on geological subjects.

Calvo (Rafael), Spanish actor and dramatic author, b. 1852. A pronounced Republican and Freethinker.

* Canestrini (Giovanni), b. Revo (Trente), 26 Dec. 1835.

Cassels (Walter Richard), a nephew of Dr. Pusey, is the author of Supernatural Religion, a critical examination of the worth of the Gospels (two vols. 1874 and three '79). Has written under his own name Eidolon and other poems, 1850, and Poems, '56. In '89 he published A Reply to Dr. Lightfoot's Essays.

Castro (Fernando), Spanish philosopher and historian. He was a priest, and on his death-bed confessed himself a Freethinker, and had a secular burial. Died about 1874, aged 60 years.

Cavia (Mariano), Spanish journalist and critic, b. 1859, editor of the Liberal of Madrid.

* Coke (Henry), author of Creeds of the Day, is the third son of the first Earl of Leicester, and was born 3 Jan. 1827. He served in the navy during the first China War, 1840-42. Published accounts of the siege of Vienna, '48, at which he was present, also "Ride over Rocky Mountains," which he accomplished with great hardships in '50. Was private secretary to Mr. Horsman when Chief Secretary for Ireland in '54-'58. Married Lady K. Egerton, 1861.

Cornette (Henri Arthur Marie), Belgian professor of Flemish literature at Antwerp, b. Bruges, 27 March, 1852. A writer in L'Avenir of Brussels and the Revue Socialite, he has published separate works on Freemasonry, 1878; Pessimism and Socialism, '80; Freethought Darwinism, etc.

Curros (Enriquez), living Spanish poet, who was prosecuted by the Bishop of Santiago, of Galicia, for his collection of poems entitled Airs of my Country, but he was acquitted by the jury.

Czerski (Johannes), German reformer, b. Warlubien, West Prussia, 12 May, 1813. He became a Catholic priest in '44, broke with the Church, associated himself with Ronge, married, and was excommunicated. Has written several works against Roman Catholicism, and is still living at Schneidemükl-Posen.

D'Ercole (Pasquale), Italian professor of philosophy in the University of Turin, author of a work on Christian Theism, in which he holds that the principles of philosophic Theism are undemonstrated and at variance both with reality and with themselves.

Deschanel (Emile Auguste), French senator, b. Paris, 19 Nov. 1819. He wrote in the Revue Independante, Revue des Deux Mondes and Liberté de Penser; for writing against clericalism in the last he was deprived of his chair. After 2 Dec. he went to Belgium. He has been Professor of Modern Literature at the College of France, and written many important works.

Desnoiresterres (Gustave le Brisoys), Frenchman of letters, b. Bayeux, 20 June, 1817, author of Epicurienes et Lettres XVII. and XVIII. Siècles, 1881, and Voltaire et la Société Française au XVIII. Siècle, an important work in eight vols.

* Desraimes (Maria), b. 15 Aug. 1835.

Diogenes (Apolloinates), a Cretan, natural philosopher, who lived in the fifth century B.C. He is supposed to have got into trouble at Athens through his philosophical opinions being considered dangerous to the State. He held that nothing was produced from nothing or reduced to nothing; that the earth was round and had received its shape from whirling. He made no distinction between mind and matter.

Donius (Augustinus), a Materialist, referred to by Bacon. His work, De Natura Dominis, in two books, 1581, refers the power of the spirit, to motion. The title of his second book is "Omnes operationes spiritus esse motum et semum."

Dosamantes (Jesus Ceballos), Mexican philosopher; author of works on Absolute Perfection, Mexico, 1888, and Modern Pharisees and Sadducees (mystics and materialists), '89.

Druskowitz (Helene), Dr., b. Vienna, 2 May, 1858. Miss Druskowitz is Doctor of philosophy at Dresden, and has written a life of Shelley, Berlin, '84; a little book on Freewill, and The New Doctrines, '83.

Dufay (Henri), author of La Legende du Christ, 1880.

Duller (Eduard), German poet and historian, b. Vienna, 18 Nov. 1809. He wrote a History of the Jesuits (Leipsic, '40) and The Men of the People (Frankfort, '47-'50). Died at Wiesbaden, 24 July, 1853.

* Du Marsais (César Chesneau). He edited Mirabaud's anonymous work on The World and its Antiquity and The Soul and its Immortality, Londres, 1751.

* Fellowes (R.) Graduated B.A. at Oxford 1796, M.A. 1801. Died 6 Feb. 1847.

Figueras-y-Moracas (Estanilas), Spanish statesman and orator, b. Barcelona, 13 Nov. 1810. Studied law and soon manifested Republican opinions. In '51 he was elected to the Cortes, was exiled in '66, but returned in '68. He fought the candidature of the Duc de Montpensiér in '69, and became President of the Spanish Republic 12 Feb. '73. Died poor in 1879, and was buried without religious ceremony, according to his wish.

Fitzgerald (Edward), English poet and translator, b. near Woodbridge, Suffolk, 31 March, 1809. Educated at Cambridge and took his degree in '30. He lived the life of a recluse, and produced a fine translation of Calderon. His fame rests securely on his fine rendering of the Quatrains of Omar Khayyam. Died 14 June, 1883.

Galletti (Baldassare), cavalier Pantheist of Palermo. Has translated Feuerbach on Death and Immortality, and also translated from Morin. Died Rome, 18 Feb. 1887.

Ganeval (Louis), French professor in Egypt, b. Veziat, 1815, author of a work on Egypt and Jesus devant l'histoire n'a jamais vécu. The first part, published in '74, was prohibited in France, and the second part was published at Geneva in '79.

Garrido (Fernando), Spanish writer, author of Memoirs of a Sceptic, Cadiz 1843, a work on Contemporary Spain, published at Brussels in '62, The Jesuits, and a large History of Political and Religious Persecutions, a work rendered into English in conjunction with C. B. Cayley. Died at Cordova in 1884.

Gerling (Fr. Wilhelm), German author of Letter of a Materialist to an Idealist, Berlin 1888, to which Frau Hedwig Henrich Wilhelmi contributes a preface.

Geroult de Pival, French librarian at Rouen; probably the author of Doutes sur la Religion, Londres, 1767. Died at Paris about 1772.

Goffin (Nicolas), founder of the Society La Libre of Liége and President of La Libre Pensée of Brussels, and one of the General Council of the International Federation of Freethinkers. Died 23 May, 1884.