A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and Nations Part 19

Leroux (Pierre), French Socialist and philosophic writer, b. Bercy, near Paris, 6 April, 1797. At first a mason, then a typographer, he invented an early composing machine which he called the pianotype. In 1824 he became editor of the Globe. Becoming a Saint Simonian, he made this paper the organ of the sect. He started with Reynaud L'Encyclopedie Nouvelle, and afterwards with L. Viardot and Mme. George Sand the Revue Independante ('41), which became noted for its pungent attacks on Catholicism. His princ.i.p.al work is De l'Humanite ('40). In June '48 M. Leroux was elected to the a.s.sembly. After the coup d'etat he returned to London and Jersey. Died at Paris, 12 April, 1871.

Leroy (Charles Georges), lieutenant ranger of the park of Versailles, b. 1723, one of the writers on the Encyclopedie. He defended the work of Helvetius on the Mind against Voltaire, and wrote Philosophical Letters on the Intelligence and Perfectibility of Animals (1768), a work translated into English in 1870. Died at Paris 1789.

Lespina.s.se (Adolf Frederik Henri de). Dutch writer, b. Delft, 14 May, 1819. Studied medicine, and established himself first at Deventer and afterwards at Zwartsluis, Vaa.s.sen, and Ha.s.selt. In the Dageraad he wrote many interesting studies under the pen-name of "t.i.tus," and translated the work of Dupuis into Dutch. In 1870 he emigrated to America and became director of a large farm in Iowa. Died in Orange City (Iowa) 1881.

L'Espina.s.se (Julie Jeanne Eleonore de). French beauty and wit, b. Lyons, 9 Nov. 1732. She became the protege of Madame du Deffand, and gained the favor of D'Alembert. Her letters are models of sensibility and spirit. Died Paris, 23 May, 1776.

Lessing (Gotthold Ephraim). German critic and dramatic poet, b. Kamenz, 22 Jan. 1729. He studied at Leipsic, and at Berlin became acquainted with Voltaire and Mendelssohn. Made librarian at Wolfenb.u.t.tel he published Fragments of an Unknown (1777), really the Vindication of Rational Wors.h.i.+ppers of G.o.d, by Reimarus, in which it was contended that Christian evidences are so clad in superst.i.tion as to be unworthy credence. Among his writings were The Freethinker and Nathan the Wise, his n.o.blest play, in which he enforces lessons of toleration and charity to all faiths. The effect of his writings was decidedly sceptical. Heine calls Lessing, after Luther, the greatest German emanc.i.p.ator. Died at Brunswick 15 Feb. 1781.

Lessona (Michele). Italian naturalist, b. 20 Sept., 1823; has translated some of the works of Darwin.

Leucippus. Greek founder of the atomic philosophy.

L'Estrange (Thomas), writer, b. 17 Jan. 1822. With a view to entering the Church he graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, 26 Feb. '44, but became an attorney. Having read F. A. Paley's Introduction to the Iliad, he became convinced that the "cooking" process there described, has been undergone by all sacred books now extant. He wrote for Thomas Scott's series valuable tracts on Our First Century, Primitive Church History, Irenaeus, Order, The Eucharist. He also edited Hume's Dialogues on Natural Religion, and wrote The First Ten Alleged Persecutions.

Levallois (Jules), French writer, b. Rouen 18 May, 1829. In '55 he became secretary to Sainte Beuve. Wrote Deisme et Christianisme, 1866.

Lewes (George Henry), English man of letters, b. in London, 18 April, 1817, he became a journalist and dramatic critic. In 1845-6 appeared his Biographical History of Philosophy, which showed higher power. This has been republished as History of Philosophy from Thales to Comte. Lewes was one of the first to introduce English readers to Comte in his account of Comte's Philosophy of the Sciences, '47. In '49 he became one of the founders of the Leader, for which he wrote till '54. In that year he began his a.s.sociation with "George Eliot"

(q.v.). His Life of Goethe appeared in '55, and from this time he began to give his attention to scientific, especially biological, studies. In '64 he published an important essay on Aristotle. On the foundation of the Fortnightly Review, '65, Lewes was appointed editor. His last work, Problems of Life and Mind, 5 vols. '74-79, was never completed owing to his death, 28 Nov. 1878. He bequeathed his books to Dr. Williams's library.

Lichtenberg (Georg Christoph), German satirical writer and scientist, b. Ober-Ramstadt, 1 July, 1742; a friend of G. Forster, he left many thoughts showing his advanced opinions. Died Gottingen, 24 Feb. 1799.

Lick (James), American philanthropist, b. Fredericksburg, Pa., 25 Aug. 1796. In 1847 he settled in California and made a large fortune by investing in real estate. He was a Materialist and bequeathed large sums to the Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton, and for other philanthropic purposes. Died San Francisco, 1 Oct. 1876.

Lilja (Nicolai), Swedish writer, b. Rostanga, 18 Oct. 1808. Studied at Lund and became parish clerk in the Lund diocese. He wrote, on Man; his Life and Destiny. Died Lund 1870.

Lincoln (Abraham), sixteenth President of the United States, b. Kentucky, 12 Feb. 1809. An uncompromising opponent of slavery, his election (Nov. '60) led to the civil war and the emanc.i.p.ation of slaves. Ward H. Lamon, who knew him well, says he "read Volney and Paine and then wrote a deliberate and labored essay, wherein he reached conclusions similar to theirs. The essay was burnt, but he never denied or regretted its composition." Mrs. Lincoln said, "Mr. Lincoln had no hope and no faith in the usual acceptance of those words." a.s.sa.s.sinated 14 April, 1865, he expired the following morning.

Lindet (Robert Thomas), "apostate" French bishop, b. Bernay, 1743. Was elected to the States-General by the clergy of his district. He embraced Republican principles, and in March, 1791, was made Bishop of L'Eure. In Nov. 1792 he publicly married. On 7 Nov. 1793, renounced his bishopric. He proposed that civil festivals should take the place of religious ones. He became member of the Conseil des Anciens. Died Bernay, 10 Aug. 1823, and was buried without religious service.

Lindh (Theodor Anders), b. Borgo (Finland), 13 Jan. 1833. Studied at Helsingfors University, '51-57; became lawyer in '71, and is now a member of the Munic.i.p.al Council of Borgo. He has written many poems in Swedish, and also translated from the English poets, and has published Freethought essays, which have brought him into controversy with the clergy.

Lindkvist (Alfred), Swedish writer, b. Gefle, 21 Oct. 1860, of pious parents. At the University of Upsala he studied European literature, and became acquainted with the works of Mill, Darwin, and Spencer. He has published two volumes of poems, Snow Drops and April Days, and lost a stipend at the University by translating from the Danish a rationalistic life of Jesus ent.i.tled The Reformer from Galilee. Mr. Lindkvist has visited Paris, and collaborated on a Stockholm daily paper. In '88 he joined his friend Lennstrand in propagating Freethought, and in Nov. received a month's imprisonment for having translated one of J. Symes's anti-Christian pamphlets. He now edits Fritankaren in conjunction with Mr. Lennstrand.

Lindner (Ernst Otto Timotheus), German physician, b. Breslau, 28 Nov. 1820. A friend of Schopenhauer, whose philosophy he maintained in several works on music. He edited the Vossische Zeitung from '63. Died at Berlin, 7 Aug. 1867.

Liniere (Francois Payot de), French satiric poet, b. Paris, 1628; known as the Atheist of Senlis. Boileau says the only act of piety he ever did was drinking holy water because his mistress dipped her finger in it. Wrote many songs and smart epigrams, and is said to have undertaken a criticism of the New Testament. Died at Paris in 1704.

Linton (Eliza, nee Lynn) novelist and journalist, daughter of vicar of Crosthwaite, c.u.mberland, b. Keswick, 1822. Has contributed largely to the leading Radical journals, and has written numerous works of fiction, of which we must mention Under which Lord? and The Rebel of the Family. In '72 she published The True History of Joshua Davidson, Christian and Communist, and in '85 the Autobiography of Christopher Kirkland. She has also written on the woman question, and contributed largely to periodical literature.

Linton (William James), poet, engraver, and author, b. at London, 1812. A Chartist in early life, he was intimately a.s.sociated with the chief political refugees. He contributed to the democratic press, and also, we believe, to the Oracle of Reason. He wrote the Reasoner tract on "The Worth of Christianity." He was one of the founders of the Leader, has edited the Truthseeker, the National and the English Republic, and has published Famine a Masque, a Life of Paine, and a memoir of James Watson and some volumes of poems. In '67 he went to America, but has recently returned.

Liscow (Christian Ludwig), one of the greatest German satirists, b. Wittenberg, 29 April, 1701. He studied law in Jena, and became acquainted with Hagedorn in Hamburg. In 1745 he was Councillor of War at Dresden. This post he abandoned, occupying himself with literature until his death, 30 Oct. 1760. Liscow's princ.i.p.al satires are The Uselessness of Good Works for our Salvation and The Excellence and Utility of Bad Writers. He has been called the German Swift, and his works show him to have been an outspoken Freethinker.

Lisle (Lionel), author of The Two Tests: the Supernatural Claims of Christianity Tried by Two of its own Rules (London, 1877).

Liszinski (Casimir), Polish martyr of n.o.ble birth. Denounced as an Atheist in 1688 by the Bishop of Wilna and Posnovia, he was decapitated and burnt at Grodno 30 March, 1689. His ashes were placed in a cannon and scattered abroad. Among the statements in Liszinski's papers was that man was the creator of G.o.d, whom he had formed out of nothing.

Littre (Maximilian Paul Emile), French philologist and philosopher, b. Paris, 1 Feb. 1801. He studied medicine, literature and most of the sciences. An advanced Republican, he was one of the editors of the National. His edition of the works of Hippocrates (1839-61) proved the thoroughness of his learning. He embraced the doctrines of Comte, and in '45 published a lucid a.n.a.lysis of the Positive Philosophy. He translated the Life of Jesus, by Strauss, and wrote the Literary History of France. His Dictionary of the French Language, in which he applied the historical method to philology, is one of the most colossal works ever performed by one man. He wrote on Comte and Positive Philosophy, Comte and Mill, etc., but refused to follow Comte in his later vagaries. From '67 till his death he conducted La Philosophie Positive. Littre also wrote Science from the Standpoint of Philosophy, '73; Literature and History, '75; Fragments of Positive Philosophy and Contemporary Sociology, '76. He was proposed for the Academy in '63, but was bitterly opposed by Bishop Dupanloup, and was elected in '71. In the same year he was elected to the National a.s.sembly, and in '75 was chosen senator. Under the Empire he twice refused the Legion of Honor. After a long life of incessant labor, he died at Paris, 2 June 1881.

Lloyd (John William), American poet and writer, b. of Welsh-English stock at Westfield, New Jersey, 4 June, 1857. Is mostly self-educated. After serving apprentices.h.i.+p as a carpenter, became a.s.sistant to Dr. Trall. Brought up as an orthodox Christian he became an Agnostic and Anarchist, and has written much in Liberty and Lucifer.

Lohmann (Hartwic), a native of Holstein, who in 1616 occupied a good position in Flensburg. He was accused of Atheism. In 1635 he practised medicine at Copenhagen. He wrote a work called the Mirror of Faith. Died 1642.

Lollard (Walter), heretic and martyr, b. England, towards end of thirteenth century, began to preach in Germany in 1315. He rejected the sacraments and ceremonies of the Church. It is said he chose twelve apostles to propagate his doctrines and that he had many followers. Arrested at Cologne in 1322, he was burnt to death, dying with great courage.

Loman (Abraham Dirk), Dutch rationalist, b. The Hague 16 Sep. 1823. He holds the entire New Testament to be unhistorical, and the Pauline Epistles to belong to the second century, and has written many critical works.

Lombroso (Cesare). Italian writer and scientist, b. Nov. 1836, has been a soldier and military physician. Introduced Darwinism to Italy. Has written several works, mostly in relation to the physiology of criminals.

Longet (Francois Achille), French physiologist, b. St. Germain-en-Laye, 1811, published a Treatise on Physiology in 3 vols. and several medical works. Died Bordeaux, 20 April, 1871.

Longiano (Sebastiano). See Fausto.

Longue (Louis Pierre de), French Deist, writer in the service of the house of Conti; wrote Les Princesses de Malabares, Adrianople, 1734, in which he satirised religion. It was condemned to be burnt 31 Dec. 1734, and a new edition published in Holland with the imprint Tranquebar, 1735.

Lorand (Georges), Belgian journalist, b. Namur, 1851, studied law at Bologna (Italy) and soon became an active propagator of Atheistic doctrines among the youth of the University and in workmen a.s.sociations. He edits La Reforme at Brussels, the ablest daily exponent of Freethought and Democratic doctrines in Belgium. He has lately headed an a.s.sociation for the suppression of the standing army.

"Lorm (Hieronymus)," the pen name of Heinrich Landesmann. German pessimistic poet, b. Nikolsberg, 9 Aug. 1821. In addition to many philosophical poems, he has written essays ent.i.tled Nature and Spirit, Vienna, '84.

Lozano (Fernando), Spanish writer in Las Dominicales dal Libre Pensamiento, where he uses the signature "Demofilo." He has written Battles of Freethought, Possessed by the Devil, The Church and Galeote, etc.

Lubbock (Sir John), banker, archaeologist, scientist and statesman, b. in London, 30 April, 1834. Educated at Eton, he was taken into his father's bank at the age of fourteen, and became a partner in '56. By his archaeological works he has most distinguished himself. He has written Prehistoric Times as Ill.u.s.trated by Ancient Remains, and the Manners and Customs of Modern Savages ('65), and The Origin of Civilisation and the Primitive Condition of Man ('70).

Lucretius Carus (t.i.tus). Roman philosophical poet, b. about B.C. 99. Little is known of his life, but his name is immortalised by his atheistic work, De Rerum Natura, in six books, which is the finest didactic poem in any language. Lucretius has been said to have believed in one G.o.d, Epicurus, whose system he expounds. Full of animation, dignity, and sublimity, he invests philosophy with the grace of genius. Is said to have died by his own hand B.C. 55.

Luetzelberger (Ernst Karl Julius), German controversialist b. Ditterswind, 19 Oct. 1802. He was a friend of the Feuerbachs. He wrote on The Church Tradition of the Apostle John. He also wrote a work on Jesus, translated in Ewerbeck's Qu'est ce que la Religion. In '56 he was appointed town librarian at Nuremberg.

Lunn (Edwin), Owenite lecturer. Published pamphlets On Prayer, its Folly, Inutility, etc. 1839, and Divine Revelation Examined, 1841.

Luys (Jules Bernard), French alienist, b. Paris, 1828. Is physician at l'Hopital de la Charite, Paris, and author of a work on The Brain and its Functions in the "International Scientific Series."

Lyell (Sir Charles), geologist, b. Kinnordy, Forfars.h.i.+re, 14 Nov. 1797. Was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, and devoted himself to geology. In 1830-33 appeared his great work, The Principles of Geology, which went through numerous editions. His last important work was Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man, in which he accepts the Darwinian theory. Died 22 Feb. 1875.

Maccall (William), writer, b. Largs. Scotland, 1812. Educated at Glasgow, he found his way to the Unitarian Church which he left as insufficiently broad. He wrote Elements of Individualism ('47), translated Spinoza's Treatise on Politics ('54), wrote to the Critic as "Atticus," contributed to the National Reformer, Secular Review, etc., published Foreign Biographies ('73), and translated Dr. Letourneau's Biology and other works. Maccall was an idealistic Pantheist of strong individual character. Died at Bexley, 19 Nov. 1888.

Macchi (Mauro), Italian writer, b. Milan, 1 July, 1818. Became professor of rhetoric at the age of twenty-four, when, becoming obnoxious to the Austrians by the liberty of his opinions, he was deprived of his position. He betook himself to radical journalism, founded l'Italia, a Republican journal, for which he was exiled. He was a.s.sociated with Ausonio Franchi and Luigi Stefanoni in the Libero Pensiero and the Libero Pensatore, and founded an Italian a.s.sociation of Freethinkers. In '61 he was elected deputy to Parliament for Cremona, and in '79 was elevated to the Senate. Died at Rome, 24 Dec. 1880. One of his princ.i.p.al works is on the Council of Ten.

Macdonald (Eugene Montague), editor of the New York Truthseeker, b. Chelsea, Maine, 4 Feb. 1855. He learned the printer's trade in New York, where he became foreman to D. M. Bennett, and contributed to the paper, which he has conducted since Mr. Bennett's death.

Macdonald (George), brother of the preceding. Wrote on the Truthseeker, and now conducts Freethought, of San Francisco, in company with S. P. Putnam. George Macdonald is a genuine humorist and a sound Freethinker.

McDonnell (William), American novelist, b. 15 Sept. 1824. Author of The Heathens of the Heath and Exeter Hall, '73, both Freethought romances.

Mackay (Robert William), author of The Progress of the Intellect, 1850, Sketch of the Rise and Progress of Christianity, '53, and The Tubingen School, '63.

Mackey (Sampson Arnold), astronomer and shoemaker, of Norwich, who is said to have constructed an orrery out of leather. He wrote The Mythological Astronomy of the Ancients, Norwich, 1822-24, Pious Frauds, '26, A Lecture on Astronomy and Geology, edited by W. D. Saull, '32, Urania's Key to the Revelation, '33, and The Age of Mental Emanc.i.p.ation, '36-39. Mackey also wrote the Sphinxiad, a rare book. Died 1846.

Mackintosh (Thomas Simmons), author of The Electrical Theory of the Universe, 1848, and An Inquiry into the Nature of Responsibility. Died 1850.