Charles Stanton Devas (26 August 1848 – 6 November 1906) was an English
political economist
Politics () is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of status or resources.
The branch of social science that studies poli ...
.
Life
Charles Stanton Devas was born in
Woodside, Old Windsor
Woodside is a large detached house with of gardens in Old Windsor, Berkshire, on the edge of Windsor Great Park. The house has been rebuilt several times since the 18th century. The Rococo gardens of Woodside were laid out in the mid-18th centur ...
on 26 August 1848.
["Devas, Charles Stanton", ''The Catholic Encyclopedia and Its Makers'', New York, the Encyclopedia Press, 1917, p. 42]
/ref> He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1263 by nobleman John I de Balliol, it has a claim to be the oldest college in Oxford and the English-speaking world.
With a governing body of a master and aro ...
, where he took a first class in the honours School of Law and History. Before proceeding to the university he had been received into the Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
and his subsequent career was entirely devoted to the service of religion. By treating political economy, both in books and lectures, from a definitely Catholic standpoint, he was unusual in his field at the time.[Devas, Francis Charles. "Charles Stanton Devas"]
''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 6 March 2019
''The Groundwork of Economics'' (1883), the first work published in his own name (for the translation into English of Hergenröther's ''Church and State'' was anonymous), attracted considerable attention and was translated into German in 1896 by Walter Kampfe. The ''Manual of Political Economy'' (Stonyhurst Philosophical Series), published in 1892 (third edition, 1907), achieved more success, and became a recognised textbook in English-speaking schools and seminaries
A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clerg ...
. In 1886, he published ''Studies in Family Life'', a historical inquiry into this branch of economics, with a view to justifying the contention that Christianity is an essential factor in the problem of social well-being. This book was translated into German in 1887 by Paul Maria Baumgarten. In 1895 he published anonymously in London a poetical version of the story of Sintram.[
Besides his books he wrote frequently for '' The Dublin Review'', ''The Month'', and other periodicals, both English and American, and read papers before The Manchester Statistical Society, The ]Catholic Truth Society
Catholic Truth Society (CTS) is a body that prints and publishes Catholic literature, including apologetics, prayerbooks, spiritual reading, and lives of saints. It is based in London, United Kingdom.
The CTS had been founded in 1868 by Cardi ...
, and other bodies. A considerable number of his later essays and lectures dealing with contemporary social problems were issued by The Catholic Truth Society in pamphlet form. He was a contributor to the ''Catholic Encyclopedia''. His last book, ''The Key to the World's Progress'', was published in 1906. This, unlike his earlier works, is directly apologetic, being an elaborate defence of the Catholic Church written with a view to meeting the difficulties and questionings of the twentieth century. A popular edition was issued after his death.[
In 1874 he married Eliza Mary Katherine, the daughter of Francis Ridout Ward. She died in 1889, leaving nine children. Devas was a zealous member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and took a leading part in all Catholic enterprises of his time in England - notably in those which enabled Catholics to frequent universities - and exercised considerable influence over the thought and conduct of English Catholics. He was examiner in Political Economy at the ]Royal University of Ireland
The Royal University of Ireland was a university in Ireland that existed from 1879 to 1909. It was founded in accordance with the University Education (Ireland) Act 1879 as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the ...
from 1889 to 1898.
Charles Stanton Devas died on 6 November 1906,[ and is buried at ]St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church, Mortlake
St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church, Mortlake, is a Roman Catholic church in North Worple Way, Mortlake, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The church is dedicated to Jesus' companion Mary Magdalene. It is located just south of M ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devas, Charles Stanton
1848 births
1906 deaths
19th-century Roman Catholics
20th-century Roman Catholics
English male non-fiction writers
English Roman Catholic writers
People educated at Eton College
Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford
Contributors to the Catholic Encyclopedia
Burials at St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church Mortlake