Thomas Tryon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Tryon
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Thomas Tryon, engraving by Robert White
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| Born | 6 September 1634 Bibury, England
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| Died | 21 August 1703 (aged 68) Hackney, London, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Sugar merchant, author, activist |
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Notable work
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The Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness (1683) |
Thomas Tryon was an English merchant and writer. He lived from 1634 to 1703. He wrote many popular self-help books. He was also an early supporter of animal rights and vegetarianism.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Thomas Tryon was born in 1634 in Bibury, England. As a child, he worked spinning wool. He did not go to school. As a teenager, he worked as a shepherd. By age 18, he taught himself to read and write.
In 1652, he moved to London. He became an apprentice to a hat maker. An apprentice learns a trade from a skilled worker. He joined a religious group called the Anabaptists. He liked their simple way of life. Later, he found his own spiritual path.
In 1657, he felt an "inner voice" guiding him. He called it the "Voice of Wisdom." This voice told him to become a vegetarian. It also told him to eat a simple, healthy diet. He got married in 1661. However, his wife did not follow his lifestyle.
Travels and Writing
Tryon traveled to Barbados. He hoped to do well in his hat business there. He also hoped for more religious freedom. But he was shocked by the harsh treatment of enslaved people.
In 1669, he returned to London. He settled in Hackney. In 1682, his inner voice told him to write books. He wanted to share ideas about healthy living and kindness.
In the last 20 years of his life, he published 27 books. His books covered many topics. These included education, healthy eating, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco. He also wrote about how to treat enslaved people. At the same time, he continued his hat business. He became quite wealthy. Some of his self-help books sold very well.
His Impact and Legacy
His most popular book was The Way to Health. It was first published in 1682. A second edition came out in 1691. This book inspired Benjamin Franklin to become a vegetarian.
Tryon's writings also impressed other famous people. These included the writer Aphra Behn. The vegetarian poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was also influenced by him.
Thomas Tryon died in Hackney in August 1703. His life story was published after his death in 1705. It was called Some Memoirs of the Life of Mr. Thomas Tryon, Late of London, Merchant.
Tryon's Core Beliefs
Tryon's ideas were shaped by old philosophies. These included Pythagoreanism, Hinduism, and the teachings of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. He saw himself as a Christian. He tried to combine ideas from the Bible, Pythagoras, and Hindu teachings.
He believed there was one true original religion for all people. He thought Moses, Pythagoras, and Indian Brahmins followed it. But he felt most Christians had changed it.
According to Tryon, the main rules of this faith were pacifism and nonviolence to animals. He believed being kind to all living things and eating a vegetarian diet were important. He thought these actions could help people grow spiritually. He even thought they could help bring back a perfect world. He clearly supported animal rights.
Tryon believed that humans are like a small version of the universe. He also worried about the environment. He spoke about rivers being polluted and forests being cut down.
He did not believe in reincarnation. Instead, he thought that bad people's souls would become like mean animals in a scary afterlife.
Tryon is important in the history of animal rights. Historians say he was the first known writer to use the word "rights" for animals. He used it in his 1683 book, The Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness. He wrote that humans act like "tyrants." He said they break God's laws and destroy the "rights and privileges" of animals.
Selected Books
- The Way to Health, Long Life and Happiness (1683)
- Wisdom's Dictates, or, Aphorisms & Rules, Physical, Moral, and Divine (1691)
- A Treatise of Cleanness in Meats and Drinks (1682)
- The Knowledge of a Man's Self the Surest Guide to the True Worship of God (1703)
See also
- Benjamin Lay, an early person who worked to end slavery. He was influenced by Tryon.
- List of abolitionist forerunners
