John Kells Ingram facts for kids

John Kells Ingram (born 7 July 1823 – died 1 May 1907) was an important Irish thinker. He was a mathematician, an economist, and a poet. He is known for helping to introduce a math idea called inversion in a circle. He also wrote a famous poem and worked to make education better for everyone.

Biography

Early Life and Education

John Kells Ingram was born on 7 July 1823. His birthplace was Templecarne, near a village called Pettigo in County Donegal, Ireland. His family had Scottish roots.

Sadly, Ingram's father passed away in 1829. After this, his mother moved the family to Newry. She wanted to make sure her five children got the best education. John went to school in Newry from 1829 to 1837. He also attended Drogheda Grammar School.

When he was just sixteen, in 1840, Ingram's poems were published. They appeared in a magazine called the Dublin University Magazine.

Academic Achievements

In 1837, at age 14, Ingram started studying at Trinity College Dublin. He was a very bright student. He became a Scholar of the College in 1840. He earned his first degree in mathematics in 1842. Later, he received his Master's degree in 1850.

Ingram had a long and successful career at Trinity College. He worked there for over 55 years. He was a professor of different subjects, including Oratory (public speaking), English Literature, Law, and Greek. He also became the College Librarian. Eventually, he rose to the position of Vice Provost.

Throughout his life, Ingram was involved in many important groups. He helped start the National Library of Ireland. He was also a member of the Royal Irish Academy. He helped create the Dublin Statistical Society. These roles show how dedicated he was to learning and sharing knowledge.

The Memory of the Dead

In March 1843, Ingram wrote his most famous poem. It was a political song called "The Memory of the Dead." It is also known as "Who Fears to Speak of '98." The poem honored the Irish Rebellion of 1798. This was a time when Irish people tried to change how Ireland was governed.

Ingram wrote the poem with his friends. They were all students at Trinity College. They talked about the 1798 Rebellion. They felt that the rebels were not being remembered enough. The poem was published without his name in The Nation Newspaper. This newspaper was known for its strong opinions.

Even though he wrote this poem, Ingram usually didn't show strong political feelings. He believed Ireland wasn't ready to govern itself. He later said, "'The Memory of the Dead' was my only contribution to the 'Nation'." However, before he died, he made a copy of the poem. He said he would always support brave people who fought against unfair rule.

The poem became very popular. It was set to music in 1845. It was even translated into Latin and Irish. It is still one of the most well-known Irish nationalist songs today.

Scholarly Contributions

Ingram was chosen to write for the famous Encyclopædia Britannica. He wrote entries for several editions of this large encyclopedia. He wrote about important thinkers and ideas.

Later in his career, Ingram became very interested in new fields. These included sociology (the study of society) and economics (the study of how money and resources are used). He wasn't trained as an economist, but he became a strong voice for historical economics. This way of thinking looked at how history shaped economic ideas.

He wrote a book called A History of Slavery and Serfdom. This book was very successful. It was translated into eleven languages. It was used as a textbook for many years. He also wrote about slavery for the Encyclopædia Britannica.

Ingram is also known for a famous phrase: "labour is not a commodity." This means that people's work should not be treated like a simple product to be bought and sold. This idea is now part of the rules for the International Labour Organization.

Ingram was active in many different areas of study. These included mathematics, history, law, and poetry. He even wrote about William Shakespeare's writing style. He also studied ancient languages and contributed to mathematical societies.

Literary Works

John Kells Ingram published several books of poetry and stories:

• 1840 – Sonnets, in the Dublin University Magazine
• 1843 – The Memory of the Dead
• 1845 – The pirate's revenge, or, A tale of Don Pedro and Miss Lois Maynard
• 1846 – Amelia Somers, the orphan, or, The buried alive
• 1897 – Love and Sorrow
• 1900 – Sonnets and Other Poems

Political and Philosophical Views

Ingram supported Home Rule for Ireland. This meant he believed Ireland should have more control over its own laws. However, he thought this should happen while Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom.

He was also a strong follower of Auguste Comte's ideas. This meant he believed in Positivism. Positivism is a way of thinking that focuses on scientific facts and observation.

Social Engagement

Ingram was a champion for social progress. He strongly supported female students being allowed to study at Trinity College. This was a big step forward for women's education.

As the college librarian, he also made the Book of Kells available for the public to see. This allowed more people to enjoy important Irish treasures.

Death and Family

A portrait of John Kells Ingram from the late 1800s.

John Kells Ingram passed away in 1907. He died at his home in Dublin. He was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery.

He married Margaret Johnston Clark in 1862. They had five children together:

• Francis Ernest Ingram (died young)
• Florence Beatrice Ingram
• John Kells Ingram, junior
• Madeline Townley Balfour
• Thomas Dunbar Ingram

Posthumous Tributes

After his death, many people recognized Ingram's impact. Economist Richard T. Ely said that Ingram helped make the study of economics more caring. He felt that Ingram helped people focus on the lives of working-class people. This made economics seem less "dry" and more human.