Mill, John Stuart (1806–1873)

John Stuart Mill was born in Petonville, England, on May 20, 1806—the first son of James Mill and Harriet Barrow. John Stuart's intellectual journey commenced at an early age with his father as his primary instructor. A demanding and diverse educational process began with Mill grasping Greek and English at age 3 and Latin at age 8. By his middle teenage years, he had completed advanced studies in history, mathematics, and economics. Mill's education was enhanced by annual trips to the estate of Jeremy Bentham—a friend of James Mill—where John Stuart was immersed in Bentham's utilitarian ideas.

At the age of 17, John Stuart began what would become a 35-year career at the East India Company, starting as a clerk and rising to the second highest position in the company's London-based office. Mill enjoyed his career as it provided a sufficient amount of time for his true passion of learning, thinking, and writing. In his early 20s, Mill found himself suffering from a severe case of depression. Many scholars attribute this depression to the lack of social nurturing, as well as to the friendships that were sacrificed to complete his extensive home schooling. As he began to read the works of Wordsworth, Comte, and Coleridge, his emotional state strengthened, and he was able to set about his life's work of social reform and philosophy.

In 1830, Mill met Harriet Taylor and the two developed a close relationship. Over time, Taylor became an increasingly influential figure in Mill's life and, 2 years after the death of her husband, the two married. The couple collaborated on Mill's writing until her death in 1858. In 1865, Mill was elected to the House of Commons, but failed in his reelection run in 1868. Throughout his life and especially during his time as an elected official, Mill was a strong supporter of the rights of women and wrote a major work on the subject titled The Subjection of Women in 1869. John Stuart Mill died in 1873 and was buried next to Harriet Taylor Mill in Avignon.

Today, John Stuart Mill is best known for his writings on utilitarianism, the teleological theory that people are obligated to do those actions that produce both mental and physical happiness and/or avoid mental and physical pain. In 1843, he published his work titled On Logic—a well-accepted philosophical work on the use of logic in the field of social science. In 1848, he published The Principles of Political Economy—a piece dedicated to the social economic situation of his time. Mill's most famous pieces are On Liberty (1859)—a work of normative political theory that defends a principle of liberty—and Utilitarianism(1861)—Mill's most famous ethical statement. His Autobiography was published in the year of his death, and his only major work dealing with religion—titled Three Essays on Religion—was published 1 year later. Many of Mill's writings continue to be used in other areas such as economics, philosophy, political science, and religion.