Malthus, Thomas Robert (1789-1835)

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Adm. pens. at JESUS, June 8, 1784. Of Surrey. [2nd s. of Daniel (Queen's College, Oxford, 1747), botanist and friend of Rousseau (and Henrietta Graham). B. Feb. 14, 1766. Educated by the Rev. Richard Graves, R. of Claverton, Somerset, and by Gilbert Wakefield (Jesus College, Cambridge) at his Dissenting Academy at Warrington, on whose advice he also joined the College.] ' Matric. Michs. 1784; exhibitioner, 1786; B.A. (9th Wrangler) 1788; M.A. 1791. Fellow, 1793-1804; ‘he was one of the Fellows who, in 1794, made an order that the name of S. T. Coleridge should be taken off the boards unless he returned and paid his tutor's bill.’ Ord. priest (Norwich, Litt. dim. from Winchester) Mar. 20, 1791. Travelled in Scandinavia, Russia and Germany, with College friends, in 1799. C. of Albury, Surrey, 1798-1804. R. of Walesby, Lincs., 1803-34. Professor of History and Political Economy at the H.E.I.C.'s College, Haileybury, 1805-34, where, for obvious reasons, he was known as ‘Old Pop.’ The only extant record of his lectures is represented by certain notes on the life of Adam Smith, made by a pupil named Inverarity and published by Professor Foxwell. F.R.S., 1819. The first accepted exponent of the economic theory of rent. His principal works appeared in the following order: Essay on the Principle of Population as it affects the Future Improvement of Society (1st edition, 1798); The High Price of Provisions (1800); Observations on the Effects of the Corn Laws (1814); The Nature and Progress of Rent (1815); Principles of Political Economy (1820); also wrote many pamphlets and monographs. Married, at Bath, Harriet, dau. of John Eckersall, of Claverton House, near Bath. Died suddenly, at Bath, Dec. 29, 1834, when on a visit to his wife's former home; buried in the Abbey Church, Bath. M.I. there, which says he was ‘one of the best men and truest philosophers of any age or country,’ and ‘lived a serene and happy life devoted to the pursuit of communication and truth.’ A copy of John Linnell's portrait hangs in the hall of Jesus College. Father of Henry (1822). (D.N.B.; J. Bonar, Malthus and his Work; Foster, Index Eccles.; Clerical Guide; P. B. G. Binnall; Jesus College Admission register and all University sources call him Robert only.)

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