Joseph Priestley

Lore & Background

He was the oldest of five living children. After his mother died and his father remarried, he lived with his wealthy aunt and uncle, who sought the best education for him.

Reader's Guide

Priestley's significance spans multiple fields. However, his refusal to abandon phlogiston theory left him isolated from the chemical revolution. His science was integral to his theology; he fused Enlightenment rationalism with Christian theism, attempting to combine theism, materialism, and determinism. He believed understanding nature would promote human progress and bring about the Christian millennium. As a theologian, he helped found Unitarianism in England and advocated toleration and equal rights for religious Dissenters. In education, he published influential works on English grammar and history, including early timelines. His legacy is that of a polymath whose ideas bridged science, religion, and politics, though his scientific views were ultimately superseded.

Did You Know?

• His metaphysical works are considered primary sources for utilitarianism by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and Herbert Spencer.

Note

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