Laurence Gronlund
Laurence Gronlund was a Danish-born figure, born in 1846, who became an influential part of the American Socialist movement after immigrating to the United States in 1867. Initially settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he began his career as a German teacher before transitioning into law, being admitted to the bar in Chicago in 1869. Gronlund's involvement in socialism began around 1874, and he became known for his writings and lectures on the subject, particularly through his book, *The Cooperative Commonwealth*, published in 1884. He is recognized for being the first English-speaking scholar to effectively articulate German Socialism and advocated a reformist approach rather than revolutionary methods. Gronlund called for a refined version of democracy, emphasizing the need for capable leadership over the concept of class struggle, which was popularized by Karl Marx. Despite his relatively low profile today, his ideas have influenced notable figures in the socialist movement, such as Edward Bellamy. Gronlund continued to contribute to journalism as an editorial writer until his death in 1899, leaving a legacy linked to the evolution of socialist thought in America.
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Laurence Gronlund
Politician
- Born: July 13, 1846
- Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Died: October 15, 1899
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
Laurence Gronlund was born in Denmark in 1846. In 1865, he graduated from the University of Copenhagen and began to study law. In 1867, Gronlund immigrated to the United States, first settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he taught German. Gronlund was admitted to the bar in 1869 and began to practice law in Chicago, Illinois. By 1874, he had become interested in the American Socialist movement, and he began to write and lecture on the subject. He was closely tied to the Socialist Labor party until 1884. Not long afterward, Gronlund was appointed to a position in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but he later returned to the lecture circuit. Beginning in 1898, Gronlund was an editorial writer for The New York Times and for the Chicago American newspaper. Gronlund continued to write editorials until his death in 1899.
Gronlund is best known for his book The Cooperative Commonwealth, which was published in 1884. He is credited with being the first English-speaking writer to adequately explain German Socialism. Gronlund advocated a reformist approach to socialism, in contrast to other socialist leaders who favored the revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist government. Rather than completely rejecting democracy, Gronlund called for its refinement, claiming that people simply wanted good administration from their leaders. Further, he deplored the idea of the class struggle favored by Karl Marx. Gronlund believed that workers were incapable of self-emancipation, and that they only needed the right kinds of leaders, people who would gently move the country toward socialism. Although Gronlund is not well remembered, his ideas influenced more well-known socialist leaders such as Edward Bellamy.