James Mill

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James Mill (born James Milne; 6 April 1773 – 23 June 1836) was a Scottish historian, economist, political thinker, and philosopher. He is seen as a founder of the Ricardian school of economics and wrote The History of British India (1817). He was the father of John Stuart Mill, a famous liberal and utilitarian philosopher, and a long-time official of the East India Company.

Early life
- Born in Northwater Bridge, Angus, Scotland, to a shoemaker/farmer father and a mother from a family with ties to the Stuart rising.
- He attended Montrose Academy and the University of Edinburgh, where he excelled in Greek.
- In 1789 he was ordained as a Church of Scotland minister, but he did not continue in that path. He studied history and philosophy while supporting himself as a tutor.

Move to London and work
- He moved to London in 1802 and became a writer and editor.
- From 1803 to 1806 he edited the Literary Journal and the St James’s Chronicle.
- He wrote on many topics, including corn trade policy, religious reform, and history.

Family
- In 1805 he married Harriet Burrow. Their son, John Stuart Mill, was born in 1806.

Philosophy and influence
- In 1808 he met Jeremy Bentham and adopted utilitarian ideas. He spent much of his life promoting these ideas.
- He wrote for several magazines and took part in debates about education, freedom of the press, and prison reform. He also helped in discussions about the future of higher education in Britain.

Major works and roles
- The History of British India (published in 1818) made him famous, though it is controversial for its colonial view of Indian society.
- The Elements of Political Economy (1821) followed the ideas of David Ricardo.
- He wrote the Analysis of the Phenomena of the Human Mind (1829) and a Fragment on Mackintosh (1835).
- In 1814 he contributed to the Encyclopaedia Britannica on topics like law, prisons, and government.

Official career in India
- In 1818 he joined India House (Examiner of Indian Correspondence) and rose to head of the office by 1830.
- He defended the East India Company's charter in political debates.

Views and legacy
- Mill supported British imperialism and argued, from a utilitarian viewpoint, that British rule could civilize India. He never visited India and based his views on documents.
- He helped shape liberal and reformist thinking of his time and influenced the formation of later political ideas.
- His best-known book is The History of British India, which has been both influential and controversial. Some critics, including Amartya Sen, say it contributed to biased views of Indians.

Death
- James Mill died in Kensington, London, in 1836 at the age of 63.