Henry Mayhew

Henry Mayhew (1812–1887) was an English social researcher, journalist, playwright, and advocate of reform. He is best known for his work London Labour and the London Poor, a groundbreaking and influential survey of the poor of London, England.

Early life

Henry Mayhew was born in London in 1812. His father, Joshua Mayhew, was a solicitor and Henry was educated at Westminster School, a prestigious public school in London. After leaving school, he began his career as a journalist and writer.

Career

In 1841, Mayhew co-founded the satirical and humorous magazine Punch, serving as the publication's joint editor. However, he left the magazine in 1842 due to financial disputes.

Mayhew's most significant work, London Labour and the London Poor, began as a series of articles in the Morning Chronicle in 1849 and was later published in book form in the 1850s. This work provided a detailed and sympathetic account of the living conditions of the working poor in London, based on Mayhew's extensive interviews and observations. It remains a key source for understanding urban life in Victorian England.

In addition to his work on poverty, Mayhew wrote plays, farces, pantomimes, and children's books. He also contributed to the Illustrated London News and wrote several travel books.

Legacy

Mayhew's work had a significant impact on public awareness of the conditions of the urban poor in Victorian England. His detailed and empathetic portrayals of the lives of the poor helped to humanize them and challenge prevailing stereotypes. His work also influenced later social reformers and researchers.

See also

• Victorian era
• Social reform
• Poverty in the United Kingdom

External links

• Works by Henry Mayhew at Victorian London
• Works by Henry Mayhew at Project Gutenberg