William Ellis (economist)
Encyclopedia
William Ellis was an English businessman, writer on economics, and educational thinker.
, was the descendant of a French refugee family named De Vezian, and took the name Ellis shortly after the son's birth. His mother was Maria Sophia Fazio, of Italian extraction. He was educated at a school in Bromley
, and at the age of fourteen became his father's assistant at Lloyd's.
In 1824, on the foundation of the Indemnity Marine Insurance Company, he became assistant-underwriter. In 1827 he was appointed chief manager of the company, and held that position for many years, until on his retirement he was elected director.
, a body never exceeding ten in number, and lasting only from the winter of 1822-3 to 1826. His fellow-members included William Eyton Tooke, son of the economical writer, and John Arthur Roebuck
. He joined Mill in another informal club for the discussion of economic questions about 1825-30, and was one of those who 'originated new speculations.' Ellis was through life a member of the school of economists led by Mill, and became conspicuous for what Mill calls his 'apostolic exertions for the improvement of education.'
to children. He endeavoured to enforce this theory with great simplicity and earnestness, both in writing and by practice. In 1846 he tried a conversation class on economic subjects in a British school. His success encouraged him to form a class of schoolmasters.
In 1848 he founded the first "Birkbeck school". In 1852 he had founded five of these schools at his own expense, naming them after George Birkbeck
. At one time there were ten of these schools. He appointed trustees and provided endowments, but only two remained in 1888. The Peckham school had at one time eight hundred pupils. The remaining "Birkbeck school" is William Ellis School
, which moved in 1937 from its initial site in Gospel Oak
. He later helped to found, and was a governor of, the school of the Middle-class Corporation, to which he contributed munificently until his death. While Ellis largely funded the schools, he had backers in George Combe
, William Ballantyne Hodgson
and others.
At the request of the Prince Consort
he gave lectures to the royal children at Buckingham Palace
. Some lectures written by him were read in several towns at the expense of Henry Brougham
. He wrote a series of text-books for the advancement of his economic views; the best known was Lessons on the Phenomena of Industrial Life, edited by Richard Dawes
.
. She died in 1870, and he survived his two sons.
Ellis also contributed the article on Marine Insurance to the first edition of John Ramsay McCulloch
's Commercial Dictionary. Some of his books were translated and two of them were introduced into the primary schools in France.
Life
Ellis was born in January 1800. His father, Andrew Ellis Ellis, an underwriter at Lloyd's of LondonLloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
, was the descendant of a French refugee family named De Vezian, and took the name Ellis shortly after the son's birth. His mother was Maria Sophia Fazio, of Italian extraction. He was educated at a school in Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, and at the age of fourteen became his father's assistant at Lloyd's.
In 1824, on the foundation of the Indemnity Marine Insurance Company, he became assistant-underwriter. In 1827 he was appointed chief manager of the company, and held that position for many years, until on his retirement he was elected director.
Economic interests
He was interested in economic speculations, and joined the Utilitarian Society formed by John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher, economist and civil servant. An influential contributor to social theory, political theory, and political economy, his conception of liberty justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state control. He was a proponent of...
, a body never exceeding ten in number, and lasting only from the winter of 1822-3 to 1826. His fellow-members included William Eyton Tooke, son of the economical writer, and John Arthur Roebuck
John Arthur Roebuck
John Arthur Roebuck , British politician, was born at Madras, in India.After the death of his father, a civil servant, his mother's second marriage transferred him to Canada, where he was chiefly brought-up. He came to England in 1824, was called to the bar John Arthur Roebuck (28 December 1802...
. He joined Mill in another informal club for the discussion of economic questions about 1825-30, and was one of those who 'originated new speculations.' Ellis was through life a member of the school of economists led by Mill, and became conspicuous for what Mill calls his 'apostolic exertions for the improvement of education.'
Educational views
He believed in the importance of teaching political economyPolitical economy
Political economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth, including through the budget process. Political economy originated in moral philosophy...
to children. He endeavoured to enforce this theory with great simplicity and earnestness, both in writing and by practice. In 1846 he tried a conversation class on economic subjects in a British school. His success encouraged him to form a class of schoolmasters.
In 1848 he founded the first "Birkbeck school". In 1852 he had founded five of these schools at his own expense, naming them after George Birkbeck
George Birkbeck
George Birkbeck was a British doctor, academic, philanthropist, pioneer in adult education and founder of Birkbeck College.-Biography:...
. At one time there were ten of these schools. He appointed trustees and provided endowments, but only two remained in 1888. The Peckham school had at one time eight hundred pupils. The remaining "Birkbeck school" is William Ellis School
William Ellis School
William Ellis School is a United Kingdom secondary comprehensive school for boys in Highgate, London.-Admissions:It is a specialist Language College. The School's motto is 'Rather Use Than Fame'. The school is over-subscribed, usually an indicator of a popular school. It is situated just west of...
, which moved in 1937 from its initial site in Gospel Oak
Gospel Oak
Gospel Oak is an inner urban area of north London in the London Borough of Camden below Hampstead Heath. It is bordered by the more affluent areas of Belsize Park to the west, Kentish Town to the south, Eastern Hampstead to the North and Dartmouth Park and Tufnell Park to the east...
. He later helped to found, and was a governor of, the school of the Middle-class Corporation, to which he contributed munificently until his death. While Ellis largely funded the schools, he had backers in George Combe
George Combe
George Combe , was a Scottish lawyer and writer on phrenology and education. In later years, he devoted himself to the promotion of phrenology. His major work was The Constitution of Man .-Early life:...
, William Ballantyne Hodgson
William Ballantyne Hodgson
William Ballantyne Hodgson was a Scottish educational reformer and political economist.-Life:The son of William Hodgson, a printer, he was born at Edinburgh on 6 October 1815. In 1823 he entered the Edinburgh High School, and, after working for a short time in a lawyer's office, matriculated in...
and others.
At the request of the Prince Consort
Prince consort
A prince consort is the husband of a queen regnant who is not himself a king in his own right.Current examples include the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , and Prince Henrik of Denmark .In recognition of his status, a prince consort may be given a formal...
he gave lectures to the royal children at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
. Some lectures written by him were read in several towns at the expense of Henry Brougham
Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux
Henry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux was a British statesman who became Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.As a young lawyer in Scotland Brougham helped to found the Edinburgh Review in 1802 and contributed many articles to it. He went to London, and was called to the English bar in...
. He wrote a series of text-books for the advancement of his economic views; the best known was Lessons on the Phenomena of Industrial Life, edited by Richard Dawes
Richard Dawes (educationalist)
Richard Dawes was an English churchman and educationalist, dean of Hereford from 1850.-Life:Richard Dawes was baptized on 13 April 1793 at Hawes in Yorkshire, the son of James Dawes, who farmed an estate at Hawes, and his wife, Isabella. He had at least three younger brothers...
.
Death and family
He died, aged 81, on 18 February 1881. He married in 1825 Mary, third daughter of the historian Sharon TurnerSharon Turner
Sharon Turner was an English historian.-Life:Born in Pentonville, Turner was the eldest son of William and Ann Turner, Yorkshire natives who had settled in London upon marrying. He left school at fifteen to be articled to an attorney in the Temple...
. She died in 1870, and he survived his two sons.
Works
His works include:- 'Outlines of Social Economy,' 1846.
- 'Education as a means of Preventing Destitution,' 1851.
- 'A Layman's Contribution to the Knowledge and Practice of Religion in Common Life,' 1857 (an exposition of economic principles).
- 'Where must we look for the further Prevention of Crime?' 1857.
- 'Philo-Socrates' (a series of papers), 1861.
- 'Introduction to the Study of the Social Sciences,' 1863 (a lecture at University College).
- 'Thoughts on the Future of the Human Race,' 1866.
- 'What stops the Way? or the two great difficulties,' 1868.
Ellis also contributed the article on Marine Insurance to the first edition of John Ramsay McCulloch
John Ramsay McCulloch
John Ramsey McCulloch , a Scottish economist, author and editor, is widely regarded as the leader of the Ricardian school of economists after the death of David Ricardo in 1823. He was appointed the first professor of political economy at University College London in 1828...
's Commercial Dictionary. Some of his books were translated and two of them were introduced into the primary schools in France.