What is William Godwin?
{{Infobox Writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox Writer/doc]] --> | name =William Godwin | image = WilliamGodwin.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1756|3|3|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Wisbech]], [[Cambridgeshire]], [[England]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1836|4|7|1756|3|3|df=y}} | death_place = [[London]], [[England]] | occupation = [[Journalist]], [[Political philosophy|Political philosopher]], [[novel]]ist | genre = | movement = | website = }} '''William Godwin''' (3 March 1756 – 7 April 1836) was an [[England|English]] journalist, [[political philosophy|political philosopher]] and [[novel]]ist. He is considered one of the first exponents of [[utilitarianism]], and one of the first modern proponents of [[philosophical anarchism]]. Godwin is famous for two books that he published within the space of a year: ''[[Political Justice|An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice]]'', an attack on [[political institution]]s, and ''[[Things as They Are or The Adventures of Caleb Williams]]'', which attacks [[aristocrat]]ic privilege, but also is virtually the first [[mystery novel]]. He was also married to [[Mary Wollstonecraft]], with whom he had two children. == Major works == * ''[[Political Justice|Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' (1793) * ''[[Things as They Are or The Adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' (1794) * ''[[The Enquirer (Godwin)|The Enquirer]]'' (1797) * ''[[Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman]]'' (1798) * ''[[St. Leon (novel)|St. Leon]]'' (1799) * ''[[Fleetwood (novel)|Fleetwood]]'' (1805) * ''[[Mandeville (novel)|Mandeville]]'' (1817) * ''[[History of the Commonwealth]]'' (1824-28) {{wikisource author|William Godwin}} {{wikiquote-en}} {{bio-stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Godwin, William}} [[Category:1756 births]] [[Category:1836 deaths]] [[Category:English philosophers]] [[Category:English journalists]] [[Category:Anarchists]]