Edward B. Tylor
Edward Burnett Tylor was an influential English anthropologist born in London in 1832 to a wealthy Quaker family. His early career began in the family brassfounding business, but a diagnosis of tuberculosis prompted him to travel abroad in search of better health. During his journeys through the United States and Cuba, Tylor developed a passion for anthropology, notably influenced by his encounters with the ethnologist Henry Christy. His travels culminated in the publication of "Anahuac," which explored Mexican culture and artifacts.
Tylor gained recognition in the field with his significant works, including "Researches into the Early History of Mankind" (1865) and "Primitive Culture" (1871), the latter establishing foundational concepts in anthropology. His academic contributions were acknowledged through his election as a fellow of the Royal Society and a doctorate from Oxford University. Throughout his career, Tylor held various prestigious positions, including curator of the Oxford University museum and professor of anthropology at Oxford, where he helped shape the curriculum for anthropology programs. He was knighted in 1912 and passed away in 1917, leaving behind a legacy of nearly sixty years of marriage and a profound impact on the discipline of anthropology.
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Subject Terms
Edward B. Tylor
Anthropologist
- Born: October 2, 1832
- Birthplace: Camberwell, London, England
- Died: January 2, 1917
- Place of death: Wellington, Somerset, England
Biography
Edward Burnett Tylor was born in London in 1832, one of the sons of Joseph Tylor and Harriet Skipper, a wealthy Quaker couple. Tylor attended Grove House in Tottenham, England, a Quaker school, and began working in his father’s business, J. Tylor and Sons, Brassfounders, in 1848. In his early twenties, diagnosed with tuberculosis and suffering from failing health, Tylor left his job at the family firm and went abroad with the hope of improving his health.
He spent 1855 and 1856 in the United States and also traveled to Cuba, where he met Henry Christy, a banker, amateur ethnologist, and fellow Quaker, in Havana. Together the two explored Mexico and its artifacts and Christy’s interests influenced Tylor, who found himself excitedly interested in anthropology. Tylor’s explorations of Mexico were featured in his book Anahuac: Or, Mexico and the Mexicans, Ancient and Modern, published in 1861.
Upon returning to England, Tylor met Anna Fox, marrying her in 1858 and establishing a comfortable home. In 1865, Tylor’s professional reputation was established with publication of his book Researches into the Early History of Mankind, which was followed in 1871 by publication of the in-depth work Primitive Culture: Researches into the Development of Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Language, Art, and Custom. In 1871, Tylor was elected a fellow at the Royal Society, and he was granted a doctor of civil laws degree from Oxford University in 1875.
In 1881, he published a condensed and popular handbook on anthropology, and in 1883 he became curator of the Oxford University museum. Tylor was also a reader of anthropology at Oxford University beginning in 1884, and in the same year he became president of the anthropology division of the British Association. In 1888, he was appointed the first Gifford lecturer at Aberdeen University, and in 1896 he was made a professor of anthropology at Oxford.
While at Oxford, Tylor outlined the schedule and course work for the anthropology degree program, an outline that was followed by other universities. Named an honorary fellow of Balliol College in 1903, Tylor retired from Oxford as an emeritus professor in 1909 and returned to his home in Somerset. The scholar and writer was knighted in 1912 and when he died five years later, he and his wife had been happily married for almost sixty years.