Henry James Sr. | |
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![]() Daguerreotype of James, c. 1855 | |
Born | Albany, New York, U.S. | June 3, 1811
Died | December 18, 1882 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | (aged 71)
Education | Union College Princeton Theological Seminary |
Occupation | Theologian |
Spouse |
Mary Robertson Walsh
(m. 1840; died 1882) |
Children | |
Signature | |
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Henry James Sr. (June 3, 1811 – December 18, 1882) was an American theologian and the father of the philosopher William James, the novelist Henry James, and the diarist Alice James.
Following a dramatic moment of spiritual enlightenment, he became deeply absorbed in Swedenborgianism, repudiating materialism and following the utopian path to grace. In this way, he was generally out of sympathy with contemporary American leaders of philosophical thought. His influence was felt more in frequent lively debates within his own circle of friends than in public life. He said “I love the fireside rather than the forum."