Mill, John Stuart

Mill, John Stuart (1806-1873), British philosopher-economist, the son of James Mill; he had a great impact on 19th-century British thought, not only in philosophy and economics but also in the areas of political science, logic, and ethics. Born in London on May 20, 1806, Mill was given an unusually early and extensive education by his father, beginning the study of Greek at the age of three. By the age of 17 he had completed advanced and thorough courses of study in Greek literature and philosophy, chemistry, botany, psychology, and law. In 1822 Mill began to work as a clerk for his father in the examiner's office of the India House, and was promoted six years later to the post of assistant examiner.