Thomas carlyle biography essay sample

Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher (1795–1881)

Thomas Carlyle (4 December 1795 – 5 February 1881) was a Scottish essayist, historian, tolerate philosopher from the Scottish Lowlands. Unornamented leading writer of the Victorian epoch, he exerted a profound influence regulation 19th-century art, literature, and philosophy.

Born in Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, Carlyle spurious the University of Edinburgh, where let go excelled in mathematics, inventing the Historiographer circle. After finishing the arts trajectory, he prepared to become a pastor in the Burgher Church while method as a schoolmaster. He quit these and several other endeavours before decrease on literature, writing for the Edinburgh Encyclopædia and working as a paraphrast. He found initial success as skilful disseminator of German literature, then becloud to English readers, through his translations, his Life of Friedrich Schiller (1825), and his review essays for assorted journals. His first major work was a novel entitled Sartor Resartus (1833–34). After relocating to London, he became famous with his French Revolution (1837), which prompted the collection and reprint of his essays as Miscellanies. Tub of his subsequent works, including On Heroes (1841), Past and Present (1843), Cromwell's Letters (1845), Latter-Day Pamphlets (1850), and History of Frederick the Great (1858–65), was highly regarded throughout Collection and North America. He founded distinction London Library, contributed significantly to description creation of the National Portrait Galleries in London and Scotland,^[1] was choice Lord Rector of Edinburgh University constrict 1865, and received the Pour pugnacious Mérite in 1874, among other titles.

Carlyle occupied a central position well-off Victorian culture, being considered not lone, in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the "undoubted head of Honestly letters",^[2] but a "secular prophet". Posthumously, his reputation suffered as publications unwelcoming his friend and disciple James Suffragist Froude provoked controversy about Carlyle's identifiable life, particularly his marriage to Jane Welsh Carlyle. His reputation further declined in the 20th century, as character onsets of World War I professor World War II brought forth accusations that he was a progenitor show signs of both Prussianism and fascism. Since integrity 1950s, extensive scholarship in the specialty of Carlyle studies has improved enthrone standing, and he is now accepted as "one of the enduring monuments of our literature who, quite straightforwardly, cannot be spared."

Biography

Early life

Thomas Carlyle was born on 4 December 1795 seal James and Margaret Aitken Carlyle check the village of Ecclefechan in Dumfriesshire in southwest Scotland. His parents were members of the Burgher secession Protestant church.^[5] James Carlyle was a mason, later a farmer, who built honourableness Arched House wherein his son was born. His maxim was that "man was created to work, not erect speculate, or feel, or dream."Nicholas Carlisle, an English antiquary, traced his derivation back to Margaret Bruce, sister gradient Robert the Bruce. As a do its stuff of his disordered upbringing, James Historiographer became deeply religious in his boy, reading many books of sermons come to rest doctrinal arguments throughout his life. Appease married his first wife in 1791, distant cousin Janet, who gave emergence to John Carlyle and then in a good way. He married Margaret Aitken in 1795, a poor farmer's daughter then mine as a servant. They had cardinal children, of whom Thomas was ethics eldest. Margaret was pious and saintly and hoped that Thomas would suit a minister. She was close finish off her eldest son, being a "smoking companion, counsellor and confidante" in Carlyle's early days. She suffered a ludicrous episode when Carlyle was a lower, in which she became "elated, disinhibited, over-talkative and violent."^[8] She suffered in relation to breakdown in 1817, which required pretty up to be removed from her house and restrained. Carlyle always spoke greatly of his parents, and his variety was deeply influenced by both get ahead them.

Carlyle's early education came from fulfil mother, who taught him reading (despite being barely literate), and his cleric, who taught him arithmetic. He foremost attended "Tom Donaldson's School" in Ecclefechan followed by Hoddam School (c. 1802–1806), which "then stood at the Kirk", remain at the "Cross-roads" midway between Ecclefechan and Hoddam Castle. By age 7, Carlyle showed enough proficiency in Land that he was advised to "go into Latin", which he did accost enthusiasm; however, the schoolmaster at Hoddam did not know Latin, so recognized was handed over to a evangelist that did, with whom he imposture a "rapid & sure way". Bankruptcy then went to Annan Academy (c. 1806–1809), where he studied rudimentary Greek, matter Latin and French fluently, and politic arithmetic "thoroughly well". Carlyle was fully bullied by his fellow students artificial Annan, until he "revolted against them, and gave stroke for stroke"; unwind remembered the first two years near as among the most miserable time off his life.

Edinburgh, the ministry and lesson (1809–1818)

In November 1809 at nearly 14 years of age, Carlyle walked rob hundred miles from his home boring order to attend the University arrive at Edinburgh (c. 1809–1814), where he studied calculation with John Leslie, science with Gents Playfair and moral philosophy with Saint Brown. He gravitated to mathematics obtain geometry and displayed great talent make those subjects, being credited with class invention of the Carlyle circle. Overcome the University library, he read go to regularly important works of eighteenth-century and virgin history, philosophy, and belles-lettres. He began expressing religious scepticism around this at this juncture, asking his mother to her dread, "Did God Almighty come down increase in intensity make wheelbarrows in a shop?" Take away 1813 he completed his arts path and enrolled in a theology taken as a whole at Divinity Hall the following scholarly year. This was to be rank preliminary of a ministerial career.

Historiographer began teaching at Annan Academy dupe June 1814. He gave his chief trial sermons in December 1814 point of view December 1815, both of which preparation lost. By the summer of 1815 he had taken an interest intricate astronomy and would study the boundless theories of Pierre-Simon Laplace for some years. In November 1816, he began teaching at Kirkcaldy, having left Annan. There, he made friends with Prince Irving, whose ex-pupil Margaret Gordon became Carlyle's "first love". In May 1817, Carlyle abstained from enrolment in position theology course, news which his parents received with "magnanimity". In the capitulation of that year, he read De l'Allemagne (1813) by Germaine de Staël, which prompted him to seek capital German teacher, with whom he au fait the pronunciation. In Irving's library, bankruptcy read the works of David Philosopher and Edward Gibbon's Decline and Despair of the Roman Empire (1776–1789); fair enough would later recall that

Beside oneself read Gibbon, and then first straightforwardly saw that Christianity was not speculation. Then came the most trying repulse of my life. I should either have gone mad or made book end of myself had I bawl fallen in with some very higher minds.

Mineralogy, law and first publications (1818–1821)

In the summer of 1818, following eminence expedition with Irving through the moors of Peebles and Moffat, Carlyle flat his first attempt at publishing, rewording an article describing what he axiom to the editor of an Capital magazine, which was not published deed is now lost. In October, Historian resigned from his position at Kirkcaldy, and left for Edinburgh in Nov. Shortly before his departure, he began to suffer from dyspepsia, which remained with him throughout his life. Operate enrolled in a mineralogy class unearth November 1818 to April 1819, present lectures by Robert Jameson, and confined January 1819 began to study Teutonic, desiring to read the mineralogical expression of Abraham Gottlob Werner. In Feb and March, he translated a split up by Jöns Jacob Berzelius, and contempt September he was "reading Goethe". Thorough November he enrolled in "the immense of Scots law", studying under Painter Hume (the advocate). In December 1819 and January 1820, Carlyle made fillet second attempt at publishing, writing nifty review-article on Marc-Auguste Pictet's review slant Jean-Alfred Gautier's Essai historique sur elongate problème des trois corps (1817) which went unpublished and is lost. Excellence law classes ended in March 1820 and he did not pursue interpretation subject any further.

In the same moon, he wrote several articles for King Brewster's Edinburgh Encyclopædia (1808–1830), which arrived in October. These were his cap published writings. In May and June, Carlyle wrote a review-article on loftiness work of Christopher Hansteen, translated spruce book by Friedrich Mohs, and make Goethe's Faust. By the autumn, Historian had also learned Italian and was reading Vittorio Alfieri, Dante Alighieri service Sismondi, though German literature was much his foremost interest, having "revealed" do away with him a "new Heaven and novel Earth". In March 1821, he top off two more articles for Brewster's vocabulary, and in April he completed unmixed review of Joanna Baillie's Metrical Legends (1821).

In May, Carlyle was introduced figure up Jane Baillie Welsh by Irving buy Haddington. The two began a packages, and Carlyle sent books to multiple, encouraging her intellectual pursuits; she labelled him "my German Master".

"Conversion": Leith Follow and Hoddam Hill (1821–1826)

During this repulse, Carlyle struggled with what he stated doubtful as "the dismallest Lernean Hydra topple problems, spiritual, temporal, eternal". Spiritual yes, lack of success in his endeavours, and dyspepsia were all damaging sovereign physical and mental health, for which he found relief only in "sea-bathing". In early July 1821, "during those 3 weeks of total sleeplessness, thwart which almost" his "one solace was that of a daily bathe appeal the sands between [Leith] and Portobello", an "incident" occurred in Leith Wend as he "went down" into decency water. This was the beginning make acquainted Carlyle's "Conversion", the process by which he "authentically took the Devil make wet the nose" and flung "him cling me". It gave him courage scam his battle against the "Hydra"; message his brother John, he wrote, "What is there to fear, indeed?"

Carlyle wrote several articles in July, August innermost September, and in November began neat translation of Adrien Marie Legendre's Elements of Geometry. In January 1822, Historian wrote "Goethe's Faust" for the New Edinburgh Review, and shortly afterwards began a tutorship for the distinguished Buller family, tutoring Charles Buller and climax brother Arthur William Buller until July; he would work for the stock until July 1824. Carlyle completed prestige Legendre translation in July 1822, getting prefixed his own essay "On Proportion", which Augustus De Morgan later baptized "as good a substitute for integrity fifth Book of Euclid as could have been given in that space". Carlyle's translation of Goethe's Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship (1824) and Travels (1825) plus his biography of Schiller (1825) horizontal him a decent income, which confidential before then eluded him, and why not? garnered a modest reputation. He began corresponding with Goethe and made authority first trip to London in 1824, meeting with prominent writers such sort Thomas Campbell, Charles Lamb, and Prophet Taylor Coleridge, and gaining friendships board Anna Montagu, Bryan Waller Proctor, topmost Henry Crabb Robinson. He also cosmopolitan to Paris in October–November with Prince Strachey and Kitty Kirkpatrick, where sand attended Georges Cuvier's introductory lecture solution comparative anatomy, gathered information on glory study of medicine, introduced himself proficient Legendre, was introduced by Legendre convey Charles Dupin, observed Laplace and a sprinkling other notables while declining offers glimpse introduction by Dupin, and heard François Magendie read a paper on authority "fifth pair of nerves".

In May 1825, Carlyle moved into a cottage till the soil contract in Hoddam Hill near Ecclefechan, which his father had leased for him. Carlyle lived with his brother Conqueror, who, "with a cheap little man-servant", worked on the farm, his jocular mater with her one maid-servant, and jurisdiction two youngest sisters, Jean and Designer. He had constant contact with rectitude rest of his family, most incline whom lived close by at Mainhill, a farm owned by his priest. Jane made a successful visit beginning September 1825. Whilst there, Carlyle wrote German Romance (1827), a translation drawing German novellas by Johann Karl Reverenced Musäus, Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, Ludwig Tieck, E. T. A. Writer, and Jean Paul. In Hoddam Mound, Carlyle found respite from the "intolerable fret, noise and confusion" that be active had experienced in Edinburgh, and practical what he described as "the wonderful and vastest prospect all round get back to normal I ever saw from any house", with "all Cumberland as in bowl unmatchable". Here, he completed his "Conversion" which began with the Leith Jump incident. He achieved "a grand swallow ever-joyful victory", in the "final chaining down, and trampling home, 'for good,' home into their caves forever, elder all" his "Spiritual Dragons". By Could 1826, problems with the landlord take precedence the agreement forced the family's prompt to Scotsbrig, a farm near Ecclefechan. Later in life, he remembered significance year at Hoddam Hill as "perhaps the most triumphantly important of ill at ease life."

Marriage, Comely Bank and Craigenputtock (1826–1834)

In October 1826, Thomas and Jane Welch were married at the Welsh kinsfolk farm in Templand. Shortly after their marriage, the Carlyles moved into elegant modest home on Comely Bank discern Edinburgh, that had been leased apply for them by Jane's mother. They quick there from October 1826 to Possibly will 1828. In that time, Carlyle publicized German Romance, began Wotton Reinfred, potent autobiographical novel which he left pending, and published his first article put under somebody's nose the Edinburgh Review, "Jean Paul Friedrich Richter" (1827). "Richter" was the principal of many essays extolling the virtues of German authors, who were redouble little-known to English readers; "State medium German Literature" was published in Oct. In Edinburgh, Carlyle made contact walk off with several distinguished literary figures, including Edinburgh Review editor Francis Jeffrey, John Physicist of Blackwood's Magazine, essayist Thomas Relegate Quincey, and philosopher William Hamilton. Inlet 1827 Carlyle attempted to land distinction Chair of Moral Philosophy at Flareup. Andrews without success, despite support put on the back burner an array of prominent intellectuals, together with Goethe.^[60] He also made an slur attempt for a professorship at loftiness University of London.

In May 1828, influence Carlyles moved to Craigenputtock, the souk house of Jane's modest agricultural manor in Dumfriesshire, which they occupied unsettled May 1834.^[61] He wrote a calculate of essays there which earned him money and augmented his reputation, as well as "Life and Writings of Werner", "Goethe's Helena", "Goethe", "Robert Burns|Burns", "The Ethos of Heyne" (each 1828), "German Playwrights", "Voltaire", "Novalis" (each 1829), "Jean Uncomfortable Friedrich Richter Again" (1830), "Cruthers suffer Jonson; or The Outskirts of Life: A True Story", "Luther's Psalm", impressive "Schiller" (each 1831). He began on the contrary did not complete a history supporting German literature, from which he histrion material for essays "The Nibelungen Lied", "Early German Literature" and parts ferryboat "Historic Survey of German Poetry" (each 1831). He published early thoughts attention the philosophy of history in "Thoughts on History" (1830) and wrote ruler first pieces of social criticism, "Signs of the Times" (1829) and "Characteristics" (1831).^[62] "Signs" garnered the interest after everything else Gustave d'Eichthal, a member of character Saint-Simonians, who sent Carlyle Saint-Simonian scholarship, including Henri de Saint-Simon's Nouveau Christianisme (1825), which Carlyle translated and wrote an introduction for.

Most notably, he wrote Sartor Resartus. Finishing the manuscript wrapping late July 1831, Carlyle began fillet search for a publisher, leaving shadow London in early August. He arena his wife lived there for rendering winter at 4 (now 33) Ampton Street, Kings Cross, in a abode built by Thomas Cubitt.^[66][67] The brusque of Carlyle's father in January 1832 and his inability to attend interpretation funeral moved him to write integrity first of what would become authority Reminiscences, published posthumously in 1881. Historian had not found a publisher vulgar the time he returned to Craigenputtock in March but he had initiated important friendships with Leigh Hunt obtain John Stuart Mill. That year, Historian wrote the essays "Goethe's Portrait", "Death of Goethe", "Goethe's Works", "Biography", "Boswell's Life of Johnson", and "Corn-Law Rhymes". Three months after their return free yourself of a January to May 1833 interrupt in Edinburgh, the Carlyles were visited at Craigenputtock by Ralph Waldo Writer. Emerson (and other like-minded Americans) difficult been deeply affected by Carlyle's essays and determined to meet him sooner than the northern terminus of a storybook pilgrimage; it was to be rendering start of a lifelong friendship delighted a famous correspondence. 1833 saw significance publication of the essays "Diderot" current "Count Cagliostro"; in the latter, Historian introduced the idea of "Captains curst Industry".

Chelsea (1834–1845)

In June 1834, the Carlyles moved into 5 Cheyne Row, Chelsea, which became their home for greatness remainder of their respective lives. Robust in London wrought a large bourgeoning of Carlyle's social circle. He became acquainted with scores of leading writers, novelists, artists, radicals, men of skill, Church of England clergymen, and national figures. Two of his most indicate friendships were with Lord and Dame Ashburton; though Carlyle's warm affection practise the latter would eventually strain queen marriage, the Ashburtons helped to widen his social horizons, giving him account to circles of intelligence, political ability, and power.

Carlyle eventually decided to spread about Sartor serially in Fraser's Magazine, reliable the instalments appearing between November 1833 and August 1834. Despite early make your mark from Emerson, Mill and others, patch up was generally received poorly, if interest at all. In 1834, Carlyle well-designed unsuccessfully for the astronomy professorship take a shot at the Edinburgh observatory. That autumn, dirt arranged for the publication of fastidious history of the French Revolution give orders to set about researching and writing outdo shortly thereafter. Having completed the gain victory volume after five months of terms, he lent the manuscript to Plant, who had been supplying him observe materials for his research. One sundown in March 1835, Mill arrived bequeath Carlyle's door appearing "unresponsive, pale, justness very picture of despair". He esoteric come to tell Carlyle that birth manuscript was destroyed. It had back number "left out", and Mill's housemaid took it for wastepaper, leaving only "some four tattered leaves". Carlyle was sympathetic: "I can be angry with negation one; for they that were bothered in it have a far in this world sorrow than mine: it is entirely the hand of Providence". The get the gist day, Mill offered Carlyle £200 (equivalent to £25,000 in 2023),^[72] of which dirt would only accept £100. He began the volume anew shortly afterwards. In defiance of an initial struggle, he was fret deterred, feeling like "a runner consider it tho' tripped down, will not balance there, but rise and run again." By September, the volume was rewritten. That year, he wrote a acclaim for his friend, "Death of Prince Irving".

In April 1836, with the entreaty of Emerson, Sartor Resartus was primary published in book form in Beantown, soon selling out its initial scurry of five hundred copies. Carlyle's three-volume history of the French Revolution was completed in January 1837 and spiral to the press. Contemporaneously, the proportion "Memoirs of Mirabeau" was published, pass for was "The Diamond Necklace" in Jan and February, and "Parliamentary History prop up the French Revolution" in April. Get the message need of further financial security, Historiographer began a series of lectures lay waste German literature in May, delivered extempore in Willis' Rooms. The Spectator according that the first lecture was land-dwelling "to a very crowded and much a select audience of both sexes." Carlyle recalled being "wasted and reticulate to a thread, my tongue ... dry as charcoal: the people were there, I was obliged to welter flounder in, and start. Ach Gott!" Neglect his inexperience as a lecturer humbling deficiency "in the mere mechanism pay oratory," reviews were positive and honesty series proved profitable for him.

During Carlyle's lecture series, The French Revolution: Unadorned History was officially published. It forcible his career breakthrough. At the specify of the year, Carlyle reported satisfy Karl August Varnhagen von Ense divagate his earlier efforts to popularise Germanic literature were beginning to produce hand to mouth, and expressed his satisfaction: "Deutschland discretion reclaim her great Colony; we shall become more Deutsch, that is understand say more English, at same time."The French Revolution fostered the republication handle Sartor Resartus in London in 1838 as well as a collection describe his earlier writings in the get up of the Critical and Miscellaneous Essays, facilitated in Boston with the smooth of Emerson. Carlyle presented his in a tick lecture series in April and June 1838 on the history of letters at the Marylebone Institution in Portman Square. The Examiner reported that conclude the end of the second talk, "Mr. Carlyle was heartily greeted junk applause." Carlyle felt that they "went on better and better, and grew at last, or threatened to develop, quite a flaming affair." He available two essays in 1838, "Sir Director Scott", being a review of Trick Gibson Lockhart's biography, and "Varnhagen von Ense's Memoirs". In April 1839, Historiographer published "Petition on the Copyright Bill". A third series of lectures was given in May on the revolutions of modern Europe, which the Examiner reviewed positively, noting after the 3rd lecture that "Mr. Carlyle's audiences recur to increase in number every time." Carlyle wrote to his mother go off at a tangent the lectures were met "with take hold of kind acceptance from people more celebrated than ever; yet still with marvellous feeling that I was far alien the right lecturing point yet." Barred enclosure July, he published "On the Droopy of the Vengeur" and in Dec he published Chartism, a pamphlet advocate which he addressed the movement admit the same name and raised distinction Condition-of-England question.

In May 1840, Carlyle gave his fourth and final set pursuit lectures, which were published in 1841 as On Heroes, Hero-Worship, & say publicly Heroic in History. Carlyle wrote finished his brother John afterwards, "The Pedagogy business went of [sic] with necessary éclat; the Course was generally upon, and I rather join therein yourself, to be the bad best Wild have yet given." In the 1840 edition of the Essays, Carlyle obtainable "Fractions", a collection of poems unavoidable from 1823 to 1833.^[94] Later dump year, he declined a proposal portend a professorship of history at Edinburgh.^[95] Carlyle was the principal founder hillock the London Library in 1841.^[96] Proceed had become frustrated by the liberty available at the British Museum Review, where he was often unable make somebody's day find a seat (obliging him pick up perch on ladders), where he complained that the enforced close confinement right his fellow readers gave him calligraphic "museum headache", where the books were unavailable for loan, and where closure found the library's collections of circulars and other material relating to interpretation French Revolution and English Civil Wars inadequately catalogued. In particular, he erudite an antipathy to the Keeper guide Printed Books, Anthony Panizzi (despite blue blood the gentry fact that Panizzi had allowed him many privileges not granted to time away readers), and criticised him in well-ordered footnote to an article published of great consequence the Westminster Review as the "respectable Sub-Librarian".^[97] Carlyle's eventual solution, with picture support of a number of efficacious friends, was to call for rank establishment of a private subscription investigate from which books could be borrowed.^[98]

Carlyle had chosen Oliver Cromwell as excellence subject for a book in 1840 and struggled to find what variation it would take. In the temporary, he wrote Past and Present (1843) and the articles "Baillie the Covenanter" (1841), "Dr. Francia" (1843), and "An Election to the Long Parliament" (1844). Carlyle declined an offer for position from St. Andrews in 1844. Illustriousness first edition of Oliver Cromwell's Hand and Speeches: with Elucidations was publicised in 1845; it was a regular success and did much to schoolwork Cromwell's standing in Britain.

Journeys to Island and Germany (1846–1865)

Carlyle visited Ireland regulate 1846 with Charles Gavan Duffy by reason of a companion and guide, and wrote a series of brief articles steamy the Irish question in 1848. These were "Ireland and the British Basic Governor", "Irish Regiments (of the Another Æra)", and "The Repeal of rendering Union", each of which offered solutions to Ireland's problems and argued leak preserve England's connection with Ireland.^[99] Historiographer wrote an article titled "Ireland station Sir Robert Peel" (signed "C.") publicized in April 1849 in The Spectator in response to two speeches accepted by Peel wherein he made indefinite of the same proposals which Historiographer had earlier suggested; he called description speeches "like a prophecy of recuperation things, inexpressibly cheering."^[100] In May, blooper published "Indian Meal", in which purify advanced maize as a remedy get as far as the Great Famine as well tempt the worries of "disconsolate Malthusians". Explicit visited Ireland again with Duffy adjacent that year while recording his depart in his letters and a broadcast of memoranda, published as Reminiscences love My Irish Journey in 1849 aft his death; Duffy would publish circlet own memoir of their travels, Conversations with Carlyle.

Carlyle's travels in Ireland deep affected his views on society, chimpanzee did the Revolutions of 1848. From way back embracing the latter as necessary interleave order to cleanse society of diverse forms of anarchy and misgovernment, fiasco denounced their democratic undercurrent and insisted on the need for authoritarian select few. These events inspired his next shine unsteadily works, "Occasional Discourse on the Disastrous Question" (1849), in which he coined the term "Dismal Science" to genus political economy, and Latter-Day Pamphlets (1850). The illiberal content of these output sullied Carlyle's reputation for some progressives, while endearing him to those lose one\'s train of thought shared his views. In 1851, Historian wrote The Life of John Sterling as a corrective to Julius Hare's unsatisfactory 1848 biography. In late Sept and early October, he made her majesty second trip to Paris, where operate met Adolphe Thiers and Prosper Mérimée; his account, "Excursion (Futile Enough) industrial action Paris; Autumn 1851", was published posthumously.^[103]

In 1852, Carlyle began research on Town the Great, whom he had uttered interest in writing a biography quite a few as early as 1830. He cosmopolitan to Germany that year, examining inception documents and prior histories. Carlyle struggled through research and writing, telling von Ense it was "the poorest, swell troublesome and arduous piece of lessons he has ever undertaken". In 1856, the first two volumes of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Callinged Frederick the Great were sent nearly the press and published in 1858. During this time, he wrote "The Opera" (1852),^[106] "Project of a Internal Exhibition of Scottish Portraits" (1854) infuriated the request of David Laing, leading "The Prinzenraub" (1855). In October 1855, he finished The Guises, a features of the House of Guise obscure its relation to Scottish history, which was first published in 1981. Historian made a second expedition to Deutschland in 1858 to survey the territory of battlefields, which he documented explain Journey to Germany, Autumn 1858, publicized posthumously. In May 1863, Carlyle wrote the short dialogue "Ilias (Americana) constrict Nuce" (American Iliad in a Nutshell) on the topic of the Land Civil War. Upon publication in Noble, the "Ilias" drew scornful letters propagate David Atwood Wasson and Horace Player Furness. In the summer of 1864, Carlyle lived at 117 Marina (built by James Burton)^[109] in St Leonards-on-Sea, in order to be nearer look after his ailing wife who was cage possession of caretakers there.

Carlyle planned trial write four volumes but had fated six by the time Frederick was finished in 1865. Before its supply, Carlyle had developed a tremor descent his writing hand. Upon its cessation, it was received as a chef-d`oeuvre. He earned a sobriquet, the "Sage of Chelsea", and in the content of those that had rebuked culminate politics, it restored Carlyle to coronate position as a great man staff letters.^[113] Carlyle was elected Lord Monk of Edinburgh University in November 1865, succeeding William Ewart Gladstone and defeating Benjamin Disraeli by a vote lose 657 to 310.^[114]

Final years (1866–1881)

Carlyle traveled to Scotland to deliver his "Inaugural Address at Edinburgh" as Rector slip in April 1866. During his trip, sharp-tasting was accompanied by John Tyndall, Socialist Henry Huxley, and Thomas Erskine. Of a nature of those that welcomed Carlyle escalation his arrival was Sir David Brewster, Principal of the university and representation commissioner of Carlyle's first professional hand-outs for the Edinburgh Encyclopædia. Carlyle was joined onstage by his fellow travellers, Brewster, Moncure D. Conway, George Doctor, Lord Neaves, and others. Carlyle strut extemporaneously on several subjects, concluding sovereign address with a quote from Goethe: "Work, and despair not: Wir heissen euch hoffen, 'We bid you verbal abuse of hope!'" Tyndall reported to Jane in a three-word telegram that pass was "A perfect triumph." The lukewarm reception he received in his nation of Scotland marked the climax take away Carlyle's life as a writer. Behaviour still in Scotland, Carlyle received startling news of Jane's sudden death coop London. Upon her death, Carlyle began to edit his wife's letters plus write reminiscences of her. He proficient feelings of guilt as he matter her complaints about her illnesses, authority friendship with Lady Harriet Ashburton, wallet his devotion to his labour, exceptionally on Frederick the Great. Although convex in grief, Carlyle remained active hostage public life.

Amidst controversy over governor Ablutions Eyre's violent repression of the Morant Bay rebellion, Carlyle assumed leadership fanatic the Eyre Defence and Aid Finance in 1865 and 1866. The Hq had convened in response to character anti-Eyre Jamaica Committee, led by Accept and backed by Charles Darwin, Musician Spencer, and others. Carlyle and picture Defence were supported by John Ruskin, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Charles Dickens, paramount Charles Kingsley.^[117][118] From December 1866 bright March 1867, Carlyle resided at goodness home of Louisa Baring, Lady Ashburton in Menton, where he wrote narrative of Irving, Jeffrey, Robert Southey, tell William Wordsworth. In August, he obtainable "Shooting Niagara: And After?", an combination in response and opposition to greatness Second Reform Bill.^[120] In 1868, operate wrote reminiscences of John Wilson famous William Hamilton, and his niece Rough idea Aitken Carlyle moved into 5 Cheyne Row, becoming his caretaker and helpful in the editing of Jane's writing book. In March 1869, he met gather Queen Victoria, who wrote in disown journal of "Mr. Carlyle, the diarist, a strange-looking eccentric old Scotchman, who holds forth, in a drawling despondent voice, with a broad Scotch force, upon Scotland and upon the sheer degeneration of everything."^[121] In 1870, pacify was elected president of the Author Library, and in November he wrote a letter to The Times propitious support of Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. His conversation was recorded provoke a number of friends and following in later years, most notably William Allingham, who became known as Carlyle's Boswell.

In the spring of 1874, Historian accepted the Pour le Mérite für Wissenschaften und Künste from Otto von Bismarck and declined Disraeli's offers pale a state pension and the Horse Grand Cross in the Order contempt the Bath in the autumn. Screen the occasion of his eightieth observance in 1875, he was presented shrink a commemorative medal crafted by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm and an oversee of admiration signed by 119 reveal the leading writers, scientists, and polite society figures of the day.^[a] "Early Kings of Norway", a recounting of factual material from the Icelandic sagas write down by Mary acting as his amanuensis,^[123] and an essay on "The Portraits of John Knox" (both 1875) were his last major writings to well published in his lifetime. In Nov 1876, he wrote a letter of great magnitude the Times "On the Eastern Question", entreating England not to enter picture Russo-Turkish War on the side lift the Turks. Another letter to birth Times in May 1877 "On high-mindedness Crisis", urging against the rumoured involve of Disraeli's to send a cable to the Baltic Sea and tip not to provoke Russia and Assemblage at large into a war break the rules England, marked his last public word. The American Academy of Arts fairy story Sciences elected him a Foreign Intended Member in 1878.^[125]

On 2 February 1881, Carlyle fell into a coma. Home in on a moment he awakened, and Line up heard him speak his final words: "So this is Death—well ..." Closure thereafter lost his speech and monotonous on the morning of 5 February.