1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Morell, John Daniel

MORELL, JOHN DANIEL (1816–1891), British educationalist, was born on the 18th of June at Little Baddow, Essex, where his father was minister of the Congregational church (1799–1852). He proceeded to Homerton College in 1833, where he studied theology under Dr Pye Smith. He then entered Glasgow University, where he took his M.A. degree in 1841. Subsequently he studied philosophy and theology under Fichte at Bonn, and returned to England to undertake the pastorate of the Congregational church at Gosport. After three years work, he decided to give up the ministry in favour of philosophical work. As early as 1846 he made his name by his Historical and Critical View of the Speculative Philosophy of Europe in the Nineteenth Century, which brought him to the notice of Lord Lansdowne, who made him an inspector of schools. From 1848 till 1876 he was active in this capacity. As a result of his experience he published numerous educational works, e.g. The Analysis of Sentences (1852), The Essentials of English Grammar and Analysis (1855), Handbook of Logic (1855), Grammar of the English Language (1857). He also published four lectures on The Philosophical Tendencies of the Age (1848), The Philosophy of Religion (1849), Fichte’s Contributions to Moral Philosophy (1860), Philosophical Fragments (1878), An Introduction to Mental Philosophy on the Inductive Method (1884). He died on the 1st of April 1891.