James Anthony Froude

James Anthony Froude was an English historian, novelist, biographer, and editor of Frasers Magazine. From his upbringing amidst the AngloCatholic Oxford Movement, Froude intended to become a clergyman, but doubts about the doctrines of the Anglican church, published in his scandalous 1849 novel The Nemesis of Faith, drove him to abandon his religious career. Froude turned to writing history, becoming one of the best known historians of his time for his History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada. Inspired by Thomas Carlyle, Froudes historical writings were often fiercely polemical, earning him a number of outspoken opponents. Froude continued to be controversial up until his death for his Life of Carlyle, which he published along with personal writings of Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle. These publications illuminated Carlyles often selfish personality, and led to persistent gossip and discussion of the couples marital problems.

The son of Robert Hurrell Froude, archdeacon of Totnes, James Anthony was born at Dartington, Devon onApril 1818. He was the youngest of eight children, including engineer and naval architect William Froude and AngloCatholic polemicist Richard Hurrell Froude, who was fifteen years his elder. By James third year his mother and five of his siblings had died of consumption, leaving James to what biographer Herbert Paul describes as a loveless, cheerless boyhood with his cold, disciplinarian father and brother Richard. He studied at Westminster School from ageuntil 15, where he was persistently bullied and tormented. Despite his unhappiness and his failure in formal education, Froude cherished the classics and read widely in history and theology.

Source: Wikipedia