Friedrich Engels

Friedrich Engels was a German thinker and writer who lived from 1820 to 1895. He is most famous for his close work with Karl Marx. Together, they wrote important books like The Communist Manifesto that helped shape ideas about how society could change. After Marx passed away, Engels worked to share Marx's writings with the world.

Engels was born into a wealthy family in Prussia but wanted to help ordinary people. When he was sent to work in a cotton mill in Manchester, England, he saw how hard life was for many workers. This experience led him to write his first big book, The Condition of the Working Class in England, showing the tough conditions people faced.

In 1844, Engels met Karl Marx in Paris, and they began working together. They developed new ways of thinking about history and society. Engels took part in big political events in 1848 and later lived in England, where he supported Marx while also working in a business. After retiring, Engels moved to London and helped spread Marxist ideas. His own books, like Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, helped many understand these ideas better. Engels passed away in London in 1895.

Early life (1820–1841)

Friedrich Engels was born on 28 November 1820 in Barmen, in the Province of Jülich-Cleves-Berg of Prussia. His father owned a cotton mill, and the family was devout Protestants. Engels grew up in an industrial area where he saw the hard lives of workers.

Engels went to school in Elberfeld, where he became interested in stories of old heroes and myths. Later, he worked in a business in Bremen, where he began writing about the tough conditions people faced in his hometown. This helped shape his views on society.

Philosophy and communism (1841–1844)

In September 1841, Engels began his one-year military service in Berlin. Instead of studying, he spent his time at the University of Berlin listening to philosophy lectures. He joined a group called the Young Hegelians, who talked a lot about religion and government.

After his service ended in 1842, Engels went to Manchester, a busy city during the Industrial Revolution. He worked in a factory and saw how difficult life was for many workers. This experience helped him form ideas about fairness and change. He wrote a book called The Condition of the Working Class in England, describing the hard lives of people in poor areas of the city. His work and ideas, along with his friend Karl Marx, helped shape thoughts on how society could get better.

Collaboration with Marx (1844–1849)

Paris, Brussels, and the Manifesto

In 1844, Engels met his friend Karl Marx in Paris. They became good friends and worked together on many projects. Their first big book was called The Holy Family, where they shared their ideas.

Later, they moved to Brussels and wrote another book, The German Ideology. In this book, they talked about how the world works.

Engels and Marx also helped people who shared their beliefs. In 1847, they were asked to write a plan for a group called the Communist League. Engels wrote two versions, and together with Marx, they made The Communist Manifesto. This book talked about how different groups of people have worked together throughout history. It ended with the famous words: "Working Men of All Countries, Unite!".

The Manifesto was published in 1848, a time of big changes in Europe. Marx and Engels moved to Cologne and started a newspaper called Neue Rheinische Zeitung. But when the government started to stop them, Engels had to leave Germany. He joined a group in Baden and Palatinate but later escaped to Switzerland after they lost.

Manchester years (1849–1870)

After the revolutions in 1848, Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx met again in London in 1849. Engels needed to help Marx with money. So, in 1850, Engels went back to Manchester to work at his family’s business, Ermen & Engels. He didn’t like it, but he did this for almost twenty years. He sent money each month to help Marx and his family.

Even while working, Engels stayed close friends with Marx. He helped Marx write articles and talked about history and science with him. Engels also wrote books and articles about wars and military topics. After Marx’s big book, Das Kapital, came out in 1867, Engels worked to make it popular. In 1869, Engels left the business and could finally spend all his time on writing and sharing his ideas.

London and later years (1870–1895)

In September 1870, Engels and Lizzy Burns moved to London, near his friend Karl Marx. This move let him focus on his political work. He joined groups of workers and helped lead discussions, supporting Marx’s ideas.

Engels’s home was a meeting place for people who wanted to change society. He spent his time studying, visiting Marx, and writing letters. On Sundays, he hosted gatherings with important thinkers and leaders.

During these years, Engels wrote several important books. One, Anti-Dühring, explained the ideas he shared with Marx in a clear way. Another book, Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, showed how their ideas were different from earlier thoughts about a better world.

After Marx died in 1883, Engels finished Marx’s major work, Das Kapital. He worked hard to organize Marx’s notes and turn them into the next two volumes. Engels also wrote The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, exploring how families and societies changed over time.

Engels gave advice to socialist groups across Europe, helping them grow. In his later years, he believed that elections could help working people achieve change, especially in countries where everyone could vote. Sadly, Engels died in London in 1895 after being ill with cancer.

Personal life

Friedrich Engels was a cheerful and lively person. He loved to talk, enjoyed poetry, and could speak many languages. He was very loyal to his best friend, Karl Marx, and helped take care of Marx's daughters like a second father.

Engels had close relationships with two sisters named Mary and Lizzy. He lived with Mary until she passed away, and later married Lizzy before she also passed away. He supported Marx in many ways.

Thought and legacy

Friedrich Engels worked closely with Karl Marx. After Marx died, Engels helped finish and share Marx's writings. Engels wrote important books like Anti-Dühring and Socialism: Utopian and Scientific. Many socialists studied these books to learn about their ideas.

Some people think Engels changed Marx’s ideas in ways that were not accurate. Others believe Engels just explained the ideas in a way that made sense for his time. Both Engels and Marx talked a lot about how nature and society change.

Engels also wrote about how society treats women and why it can be unfair. His book The Origin of the Family talked about how women’s roles changed with private property. Even though some people disagree with his views, his ideas are still discussed today.

In modern times, people see that Engels’ concerns about big businesses, environmental problems in cities, and the connection between health and unfair economic systems are still important. His writings about poor conditions in industrial cities like Manchester remain influential.

Selected works

Friedrich Engels wrote many important books with his friend Karl Marx. Some of their well-known works include The Condition of the Working Class in England from 1845 and The Communist Manifesto from 1848. Engels also wrote books on his own, like The Peasant War in Germany in 1850 and The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State in 1884. His writings helped explain ideas about society and change.