Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish essayist and historian; his writings helped him to become one of a select group of sages that earned the respect of the serious minded Victorian public. His writings consisted of historical events, political and economic situations, and he also wrote books about religious and biographical topics.Thomas Carlyle was born in Ecclefechan, Annandale on December 4, 1795. His father, James Carlyle, was a profound Calvinist and was part of his early influence to enter the ministry. James could clearly see his oldest son had a special talent and saw that he was to receive a good education. Thomass early education consisted of going to Annan Academy in 1805 and then later to Edinburgh in 1809. His goal at the time was to become a minister. However, in 1814 he left without a degree and went to teach math at Annan. In 1816 he moved to a school in Kirkcaldy where he became a close friend with Edward Irving. This was Carlyle's first experience of intellectual companionship and the two men became life long friends. Carlyle had complete admiration for Irving and later said this about their friendship. I had never known what communion of man with man means. Irving later moved to London in 1822 and became a well-known preacher.The next years of Carlyle's life were hard ones that helped mold his writing style. In this time Carlyle lost his love for teaching and abandoned it to return to Edinburgh to study law in 1819. While studying law he spent three miserable years, feeling lonely and was unable to find any meaning in life. It was at this time that he eventually abandoned the idea of entering the ministry. In these years he also began his serious study of German, the literature which he most admired and enjoyed. He especially liked Goethe and published a translation of Wilhelm Meisters Apprenticeship in 1824. At this time he made a living by holding several brief tutorships in Edinburgh and Dunkeld.On Oct...
