James Anthony Froude
James Anthony Froude (1818-1894) was an English historian and author, born in Devonshire to a prominent ecclesiastical family. His early life was marked by personal challenges, including illness and the shadow of his elder brother, Richard, a notable figure in the Oxford Movement. Froude received much of his education at home and faced difficulties during his time at Westminster College, eventually preparing for university under a private tutor. He enrolled at Oriel College, Oxford, where he was influenced by John Henry Newman and received recognition for his writing.
Froude's literary career began with his first novel, "Shadows of the Clouds," and he later gained notoriety for his autobiographical work, "The Nemesis of Faith," which explored his religious doubts and caused considerable controversy. As a result, he lost his fellowship at Exeter College. Despite setbacks, he became a prominent literary figure, serving as the editor of Fraser's Magazine and producing notable historical works, including a four-volume "History of England." Froude was also the literary executor and biographer of Thomas Carlyle, further solidifying his place in 19th-century literature. His final novel, "The Two Chiefs of Dunboy," reflects his interest in Irish history and the religious conflicts of the time. Froude's contributions to history and literature continue to be recognized today.
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Subject Terms
James Anthony Froude
Historian
- Born: April 23, 1818
- Birthplace: Dartington, Devonshire, England
- Died: October 20, 1894
- Place of death: Salcombe Harbour, Devonshire, England
Biography
In 1818, James Anthony Froude was born in Devonshire, England, to Archdeacon Robert Hurrell Froude and Margaret Spedding Froude, who was to die shortly after his third birthday. Ill as a child, much of Froude’s education took place at home. He lived unhappily in the shadow of his older brother, Richard Hurrell, who died early after gaining prominence in the conservative philosophical Oxford Movement. At age eleven, Froude was sent to Westminster College where he suffered much hardship, and at fifteen, having not performed well in school, he was sent to a private tutor at Oxford in order to prepare to enter the university.
Froude enrolled at Oriel, Oxford, in 1836, where he fell under the influence of prominent scholar John Henry Newman. Soon after, he won the Chancellor’s Prize for an English essay and was elected Fellow of Exeter. He married Charlotte Grenfell in 1849, moved to Wales, and soon after decided to make his living as a writer. The couple had three children: Margaret, Rose Mary, and Pascal Grenfell. After Charlotte’s death in 1860, Froude married Henrietta Elizabeth Warre. In 1892, he was named Regius Professorship of Modern History at Oxford University, a post he held until his death in 1894.
The events of Froude’s early life provided the material for his first novel, Shadows of the Clouds, published under the pseudonym Zeta in 1847. It comprises two separate stories: “The Spirit’s Trials” and “The Lieutenant’s Daughter.” The first deals with the clouds of misfortune that follow the characters, in particular the protagonist Edward Fowler, throughout his early life, education, and first love. Froude’s autobiographical The Nemesis of Faith (1849) concerns his crisis of religious faith. The protagonist Markham Sutherland, who struggles with a deep sense of eroding faith, finds himself convinced to take orders in the Church of England, and ends up deeply remorseful. The novel caused a sensation; Froude found himself branded a heretic, and was forced by Exeter to resign his fellowship in 1849.
Destitute, he found work as a private tutor. That same year, he met Thomas Carlyle, an encounter that would lead in time to Froude’s position as literary executor and biographer of Carlyle. In time, Froude wrote his History of England (1856-1870), a four-volume biography of Carlyle (1882-1884), and numerous historical volumes and biographies. He was the editor of Fraser’s Magazine from 1861 to 1874. His final novel, The Two Chiefs of Dunboy: Or, An Irish Romance of the Last Century (1889), centers on the conflict between Protestant and Catholic Ireland, where Froude spent a period of his youth as a tutor. An historical romance, the novel remains highly regarded. Froude is best known as a historian and the literary executor and biographer of nineteenth century intellectual Thomas Carlyle.