Henry George

Author Code: AHGX

George left school at an early age and spent some time working in an imporing house before going to sea. He became a typesetter on his return to Philadelphia. He then travelled to SanFrancisco and then to Canada to join in the gold rush. From his return to California in 1858 he worked for various newspapers and in 1871 started the San Francisco Daily Evening Post, which was forced to close in 1875. His involvement in Democratic party politics during these years led to an inspector's position in government, which allowed him time to work on his greatest effort, Progress and Poverty. When published in 1879, it was an immediate success. George also published numerous pamphlets, primarily dealing with socio-economic issues and became a lecturer touring throughout the USA and Great Britain. He moved to New York City in 1880 and narrowly lost the 1886 race for mayor of that city. He died while campaigning in 1897. George was an advocate of a single tax based on economic rent of land. His other publications included The Irish Land Question (1882), Social Problems (1884), and Protection of Free Trade (1886).