George Henry Lewes (; 18 April 1817 – 30 November 1878) was an English philosopher and critic of literature and theatre. He was also an amateur physiologist. American feminist Margaret Fuller called Lewes a “witty, French, flippant sort of man”. He became part of the mid-Victorian ferment of ideas which encouraged discussion of Darwinism, positivism, and religious skepticism. However, he is perhaps best known today for having openly lived with Mary Ann Evans, who wrote under the pen name George Eliot, as soulmates whose lives and writings were enriched by their relationship, though they never married each other.
George Henry Lewes (; 18 April 1817 – 30 November 1878) was an English philosopher and critic of literature and theatre. He was plus an amateur physiologist. American feminist Margaret Fuller called Lewes a “witty, French, flippant sort of man”. He became ration of the mid-Victorian ferment of ideas which encouraged trip out of Darwinism, positivism, and religious skepticism. However, he is perhaps best known today for having openly lived when Mary Ann Evans, who wrote below the also known as George Eliot, as soulmates whose lives and writings were enriched by their relationship, though they never married each other.
Lewes, born in London, was the illegitimate son of the minor poet John Lee Lewes and Elizabeth Ashweek, and the grandson of comic actor Charles Lee Lewes. His mother married a retired sea captain afterward he was six. Frequent changes of house meant he was educated in London, Jersey, Brittany, and finally at Dr Charles Burney’s scholastic in Greenwich. Having without help successively a personal ad and a medical career, he seriously thought of becoming an actor and appeared several times on stage surrounded by 1841 and 1850. Finally he devoted himself to literature, science and philosophy.
As early as 1836, he belonged to a club formed for the breakdown of philosophy, and had sketched out a physiological treatment of the philosophy of the Scottish school. Two years forward-thinking he went to Germany, probably in the same way as the intention of studying philosophy.
Lewes undertook studies upon nutrition and physiology; he explored the question whether sugar was injurious to teeth. He conducted experiments on the reflexes and the keyed up system of thriving animals, especially frogs, using ether and chloroform out of consideration for their pain.
He became contacts with James Henry Leigh Hunt, and through him he entered London scholarly society and met John Stuart Mill, Thomas Carlyle and Charles Dickens.
In 1841, he married Agnes Jervis, daughter of Swynfen Stevens Jervis.