Thomas Malthus

Date of Birth: February 13, 1766

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: December 29, 1834

Biography

Thomas Robert Malthus was an influential English economist and demographer, best known for his theory on population growth. Born into a wealthy family, Malthus received a strong education, attending Jesus College, Cambridge, where he earned his master’s degree. His most famous work, “An Essay on the Principle of Population,” published in 1798, argued that population growth would always outstrip food supply, leading to widespread poverty and famine unless controlled by natural checks such as disease, war, and moral restraint. Malthus’ ideas had a profound impact on economic theory and social policy, influencing both contemporaries and later thinkers including Charles Darwin.

5 Interesting Facts about Thomas Malthus

1. Malthus was the sixth of seven children in his family.

2. He was ordained as an Anglican cleric in 1797.

3. Malthus held the position of Professor of History and Political Economy at the East India Company College in Hertfordshire, a post he held until his death.

4. His work influenced Charles Darwin, who acknowledged Malthus’ ideas as a foundation for the theory of natural selection.

5. Malthus’ theories were controversial and sparked much debate, leading to the development of various socio-economic policies.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Thomas Malthus

1. “The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.”

2. “Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio.”

3. “The superior power of population cannot be checked without producing misery or vice.”

4. “The histories of mankind are histories only of the higher classes.”

5. “I think it will be found that experience, the true source and foundation of all knowledge, invariably confirms its truth.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Thomas Malthus did not accumulate significant personal wealth during his lifetime. His highest net worth is not documented, but he lived comfortably thanks to his academic positions and family background.