Thomas Day

Date of Birth: June 22, 1748

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: September 28, 1789

Biography

Thomas Day was an 18th-century British author and abolitionist known for his thought-provoking writings and progressive ideas. Born into a wealthy family, Day used his resources to support various social causes, notably the abolition of slavery. He is best remembered for his didactic novel “The History of Sandford and Merton,” published in 1783, which aimed to teach children moral values and the importance of virtue. In addition to his literary pursuits, Day was an active member of several intellectual societies and was influenced by the Enlightenment thinkers of his time.

5 Interesting Facts about Thomas Day

1. Thomas Day was a fervent supporter of the abolitionist movement and used his writings to advocate for the end of slavery.

2. Day was a member of the Lunar Society, a group of prominent intellectuals and industrialists including Erasmus Darwin and Josiah Wedgwood.

3. He conducted an unusual experiment to “mold” two orphan girls into his ideal of a perfect wife, which ultimately failed and led to much criticism.

4. Day was heavily influenced by Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s philosophies, especially the ideas presented in “Emile, or On Education.”

5. His book “The History of Sandford and Merton” became a bestseller and was widely used as a children’s educational text well into the 19th century.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Thomas Day

1. “Virtue is the truest nobility.”

2. “In an age of frivolity, the man of sense is a prodigy.”

3. “He who has most virtue in his youth, will have most happiness in his age.”

4. “The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of cities, nor the crops, but the kind of man the country turns out.”

5. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth Thomas Day achieved was likely modest in comparison to modern standards, primarily derived from his inherited wealth and modest earnings from his literary works.