Richard Congreve (4 September 1818 – 5 July 1899) was the first English philosopher to openly espouse the
Religion of Humanity
Religion of Humanity (from French ''Religion de l'Humanité'' or '' église positiviste'') is a secular religion created by Auguste Comte (1798–1857), the founder of positivist philosophy. Adherents of this religion have built chapels of Huma ...
, the godless form of
religious humanism that was introduced by
Auguste Comte, as a distinct form of
positivism. Congreve was the first thinker to offer a systematic policy, on positivist lines, to dismantle the British Empire. In 1859, after issuing controversial anti-imperialist pamphlets on Gibraltar and India, he delivered his 'first sermon' as a Positivist apostle and 'vicar' of the Religion of Humanity. He later founded the
London Positivist Society in 1867 and, after a schism with his closest followers in 1878, he broke off to formally found the
Comtist Church of Humanity
Church of Humanity was a positivist church in England influenced and inspired by Auguste Comte's Religion of Humanity in France. It also had a branch or variant in New York City, Brazil and other locations. Richard Congreve founded the firs ...
.
Life and education
He was born at
Leamington Hastings
Leamington Hastings is a small village and larger civil parish in Warwickshire, England. The civil parish covers Leamington Hastings itself, plus the nearby hamlets of Broadwell, Hill and Kites Hardwick. Its population in the 2011 census was ...
, Warwickshire, on 4 September 1818. He was educated under
Thomas Arnold at
Rugby School
Rugby School is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) in Rugby, Warwickshire, England.
Founded in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys, it is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain. ...
,
and at the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
, where he gained a scholarship at
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is located in the centre of Oxford, at the intersection of Broad Street and Parks Road.
Wadham College was founded in 1610 by Dorothy W ...
, matriculated on 23 February 1837, graduated B.A. (first class in literæ humaniores) in 1840, and proceeded M.A. in 1843. He was
president of the Oxford Union in 1841.
[''The Oxford Union 1823-1923'', p. 315]
He came to Oxford a typical pupil of Arnold – high-minded, intensely earnest, and latitudinarian in his theological opinions. His success in the schools was naturally followed by election to a fellowship at his college; he was a master at Rugby from 1845 to 1848,;
he resided as tutor for the next ten years. His influence upon his pupils is said to have been singularly bracing, morally as well as intellectually.
The turning-point in Congreve's life was a visit to Paris shortly after the
French Revolution of 1848. He there met
Jules Barthélemy-Saint-Hilaire
Jules Barthélemy-Saint-Hilaire (19 August 1805 – 24 November 1895) was a French philosopher, journalist, statesman, and possible illegitimate son of Napoleon I of France.
Biography
Jules was born in Paris. Marie Belloc Lowndes, in th ...
and
Auguste Comte, and the influence of Comte stayed with him. He adopted the entire positivist system, including the religious cult. He resigned his fellowship (1855), left Oxford, and soon afterwards founded the positivist community in London.
Congreve studied medicine, and in 1866 was admitted member of the
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...
. In the early days of the positivist movement he took the major part in the establishment of the propaganda in Chapel Street,
Lamb's Conduit Street, London, and for some years worked harmoniously with
Frederic Harrison
Frederic Harrison (18 October 1831 – 14 January 1923) was a British jurist and historian.
Biography
Born at 17 Euston Square, London, he was the son of Frederick Harrison (1799–1881), a stockbroker and his wife Jane, daughter of Alexa ...
and other leading positivists. In 1878, however, he issued a circular (17 June) in which he claimed for himself an authority independent of
Pierre Laffitte
Pierre Laffitte (21 February 1823 – 4 January 1903) was a French positivist philosopher.
Laffitte was born at Béguey, Gironde. Residing at Paris as a teacher of mathematics, he became a disciple of Auguste Comte, who appointed him his lit ...
, Comte's principal executor, and as such then universally acknowledged as the head of the positivist community. Some positivists joined him; others, among whom were
Frederic Harrison
Frederic Harrison (18 October 1831 – 14 January 1923) was a British jurist and historian.
Biography
Born at 17 Euston Square, London, he was the son of Frederick Harrison (1799–1881), a stockbroker and his wife Jane, daughter of Alexa ...
,
John Henry Bridges
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second ...
,
Edward Spencer Beesly
Edward Spencer Beesly (; 23 January 1831 – 7 March 1915) was an English positivist, trades union activist, and historian.
Life
He was born on 23 January 1831 in Feckenham, Worcestershire, the eldest son of the Rev. James Beesly and his wife ...
,
Vernon Lushington, and
James Cotter Morison, remained in union with Laffitte, and opened Newton Hall, Fetter Lane, London, as their place of meeting.
Congreve used the freedom which this separation allowed him to elaborate a higher form of ritual. Despite failing health, he maintained his unfashionable opinions, and kept up his priestly functions, until his death, at Hampstead, on 5 July 1899. He was cremated and then buried in
Brookwood Cemetery
Brookwood Cemetery, also known as the London Necropolis, is a burial ground in Brookwood, Surrey, England. It is the largest cemetery in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in Europe. The cemetery is listed a Grade I site in the Regi ...
.
Family
In 1856, he married Mary, daughter of John Bury of Warwick. He may or may not be related to
Galfred Congreve.
Works
Congreve published:
* ''The Politics of Aristotle: with English Notes'', London, 1855; 2nd edit. 1874.
* ''The Roman Empire of the West: Four Lectures delivered at the Philosophical Institution, Edinburgh'', London, 1855.
* ''Gibraltar; or, the Foreign Policy of England'', London, 1857, (a plea for the surrender of the Rock).
* ''India'', London, 1857 (a plea for the abandonment of the British Raj).
* ''The Catechism of the Positive Religion. Translated from the French of Auguste Comte'', London, 1858; 2nd edit. 1883; 3rd edit. 1891.
* ''A Letter on the Strike'', London, 1859
* ''Italy and the Western Powers, and Elizabeth of England'', London, 1862.
* ''Mr. Broadhead and the Anonymous Press'', London, 1867. On
William Broadhead.
* ''Essays, Political, Social, and Religious'', London, 1874; 2nd ser. 1892.
* ''Human Catholicism'', London, 1876.
References
;Attribution
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Congreve, Richard
Comtism
Positivists
Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford
Fellows of Wadham College, Oxford
Presidents of the Oxford Union
1818 births
1899 deaths
People educated at Rugby School
Burials at Brookwood Cemetery