Origins & Early Life

Lewis Henry Morgan (November 21, 1818 – December 17, 1881) was an American anthropologist and social theorist, who worked as a railroad lawyer. He is best known for his work on kinship and social structure, his theories of social evolution, and his ethnography of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). Interested in what holds societies together, he proposed the concept that the earliest human domestic institution was the matrilineal clan, not the patriarchal family. Also interested in what leads to social change, he was a contemporary of the European social theorists Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who were influenced by reading his work on social structure and material culture, the influence of technology on progress.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Morgan is the only American social theorist to be cited by such diverse scholars as Marx, Charles Darwin, and Sigmund Freud. Elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Morgan served as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1880. Morgan was a Republican member of the New York State Assembly (Monroe Co., 2nd D.) in 1861, and of the New York State Senate in 1868 and 1869. According to Herbert...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander II of Russia — Contemporary (Born in 1818) (1818): Emperor of Russia, known as 'The Liberator' for abolishing serfdom.
• Elizabeth F. Ellet — Contemporary (Born in 1818) (1818): American writer, poet, and historian, celebrated for chronicling women's roles in the American Revolution.
• Emil du Bois-Reymond — Contemporary (Born in 1818) (1818): Pioneering physiologist, co-discoverer of nerve action potential, and electrophysiology expert.
• Alexander Fleming — Contemporary (Born in 1881) (1881): Pioneering microbiologist known for the discovery of penicillin, revolutionizing medicine.
• Asta Nielsen — Contemporary (Born in 1881) (1881): Pioneering Danish actress, celebrated for transforming film performance into naturalism.
• Béla Bartók — Contemporary (Born in 1881) (1881): Pioneering Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist of the 20th century.
• Abdus Salam — Shared historical date (11-21 · Died) (1996): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Almaz Ayana — Shared historical date (11-21 · Born) (1991): Ethiopian long-distance runner known for Olympic and World Championship success.
• 13th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (12-17 · Died) (1933): Spiritual leader of Tibet who championed national independence and modernization.
• Angelo Mariani (chemist) — Shared historical date (12-17 · Born) (1838): French chemist and entrepreneur, famous for inventing Vin Mariani, the first coca wine.
• 1818 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1818
• November 21 (11-21) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 21
• 1881 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1881
• December 17 (12-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 17