Walter Bagehot

Date of Birth: February 3, 1826

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: March 24, 1877

Biography

Walter Bagehot was a prominent British journalist, businessman, and essayist, best known for his influential works on economics, government, and literature. Born in Langport, Somerset, Bagehot was educated at University College London where he studied mathematics and law. He initially pursued a career in law, but his passion for writing soon took precedence. He became the editor of The Economist in 1860, a position he held until his death. Under his stewardship, The Economist became renowned for its insightful analysis of politics and finance. Bagehot’s most famous work, “The English Constitution,” remains a seminal text in the study of British political systems. His writings continue to influence economists, political scientists, and literary critics worldwide.

5 Interesting Facts about Walter Bagehot

1. Bagehot was a close friend of the poet Matthew Arnold and often engaged in intellectual discussions with him.

2. He was one of the few journalists of his time to have a deep understanding of banking and finance, which he often wrote about in The Economist.

3. Bagehot’s work “Lombard Street: A Description of the Money Market” is considered a classic in the field of banking.

4. He married Eliza Wilson, the daughter of James Wilson, the founder of The Economist.

5. Despite his significant contributions to journalism and economics, Bagehot was also an accomplished essayist, writing on a wide range of topics from Shakespeare to the history of metaphysics.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Walter Bagehot

1. “The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”

2. “A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people.”

3. “The reason that there is so little crime in Germany is that it’s against the law.”

4. “The most melancholy of human reflections, perhaps, is that, on the whole, it is a question whether the benevolence of mankind does most good or harm.”

5. “Public opinion is a permeating influence, and it exacts obedience to itself; it requires us to drink other men’s thoughts, to speak other men’s words, to follow other men’s habits.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Walter Bagehot’s exact net worth is not well-documented, but his influence and contributions to journalism and economics were invaluable and have left a lasting legacy.