Date of Birth: April 17, 1854
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Date of Death: June 22, 1939
Biography
Benjamin Ricketson Tucker was born on April 17, 1854, in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He was an influential American anarchist and socialist, known for his advocacy of individualist anarchism. Tucker was a prominent figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, contributing significantly to the spread of anarchist ideas in the United States. He was the editor and publisher of the periodical “Liberty,” which ran from 1881 to 1908 and became a primary platform for his ideological beliefs. Tucker’s works emphasized the importance of individual sovereignty, free markets, and voluntary cooperation. In addition to his editorial work, Tucker translated and published several key anarchist and socialist texts, helping to introduce the American audience to the works of European thinkers such as Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and Mikhail Bakunin. His own writings, including “Instead of a Book, by a Man Too Busy to Write One,” compiled his many essays and articles, providing a comprehensive look at his philosophy. Tucker’s ideas were often controversial, as he challenged both state authority and the capitalist exploitation he saw as pervasive in society. He remained an active voice in the anarchist movement until his death on June 22, 1939, in Monaco.
5 Interesting Facts about Benjamin Tucker
1. Benjamin Tucker was a polyglot, fluent in multiple languages, including French, German, and Spanish.
2. He was a key figure in the translation and dissemination of European anarchist literature in the United States.
3. Tucker was a vocal critic of intellectual property, considering it a state-supported monopoly.
4. He had a long-standing feud with other anarchists who supported more collectivist ideologies.
5. Tucker was also an early advocate for women’s rights and free love, challenging the conventional norms of his time.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Benjamin Tucker
1. “If the individual has a right to govern himself, all external government is tyranny.”
2. “Anarchists are simply unterrified Jeffersonian Democrats.”
3. “Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us.”
4. “The right of a man to control his person and property is absolute.”
5. “Monopoly is the condition in which the whole country is owned and controlled by a few men.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Benjamin Tucker did not achieve significant financial wealth; his highest net worth was modest, primarily derived from his publishing activities.
Children
Benjamin Tucker did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Benjamin Tucker on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Tucker
2. [Liberty Magazine Archives](https://www.libertarian-labyrinth.org/liberty/
3. [Biography on Anarchist Library](https://theanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/benjamin-tucker
4. [Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Benjamin Tucker](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/tucker/
5. [Benjamin Tucker’s Works on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/39708
