George Combe - Constitution of Man

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Growing up 

George Combe was born on 21 October, 1788 in Edinburgh to a family of thirteen children.

George's father, who had the same name as him, was a very successful brewer in Edinburgh.

Being raised in a crowded home at the base of Edinburgh Castle, George felt he didn't receive the attention he deserved.
This lack of attention later resulted in a strong advocacy for phrenology, (the study that focuses on the shape of the skull).

As a child, George's parents insisted on strong religious education, as this was the norm at the time.

George attended Edinburgh University from 1802 until 1804, after which he was apprenticed as a clerk for lawyers. 

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Strong opinions

In 1810, George joined a weekly debating club, covering various topics such as the death penalty for criminals or comparing the advantages and disadvantages of  matrimony. During this time, it became clear that George liked taking a stand on the current issues at hand and excelled at showing off his knowledge. 

George frequently spoke as if he never expected someone to oppose his views, he once famously quoted,

I was a good teacher but a bad learner - George Combe

Commitment to phrenology 

Everything changed when John Gordon's review of J.G. Spurzheim was released in 1815, revolving around phrenology.

At first, George mocked Spurzheim's vision, calling it a piece of thorough quackery from beginning to end.

One year later, George was invited to watch Spurzheim dissect a human brain.

After the demonstration, George was impressed and continued to attend other lectures by Spurzheim, changing his views on phrenology. 

J.G. Spurzheim (left picture) |  Image is copyrighted and not owned by Thinkark in any way, no profit will be made from this article. Will remove upon request

First publication

George began investigating the subject. This resulted in his first essay on phrenology published in Scots Magazine in 1817. For the first time in his life, George received the attention he deserved. 

In February 1820, George and his younger brother Andrew founded the Edinburgh Phrenological Society (EPS).

(the first official group revolving around phrenology ever created).

Throughout 1826, the EPS had 120 members and stood as a beacon for phrenology.  

The constitution of man

Years after establishing ESP and gaining acceptance as an advocate of phrenology, George devoted himself to promoting the philosophy of natural law and secular society.

George's dedication resulted in the writing of his best-selling book, 'The Constitution of Man'.

Though the book contains hints of phrenology, it's more about the subject of naturalism as a whole. Emphasizing a healthy and balanced relationship with nature and its benefits. 

Sculpted portrait of Combe on the ESP (Left picture) | Image is copyrighted and not owned by Thinkark in any way, no profit will be made from this article. Will remove upon request

Founder of personal development

The Constitution of Man is commonly recognized as the first book ever written about personal development. Having sold around 350,000 copies between 1828 and 1900, few books were more widely distributed or influential in changing how people viewed themselves. 

During that time, George received much criticism. Copies of The Constitution of Man were often burned by societies that opposed his writing. Some even claim that these events resulted in the creation of Darwin's Origin of Species, which sold only around 50,000 copies between 1859 and 1900. 

Nonetheless, George's influence on the evolution of personal development can't be ignored. George's advocacy for living in accordance with nature and aiming for a beneficial lifestyle later resulted in the personal development movement as we know it today.