Caleb Saleeby
Encyclopedia
Dr. Caleb Williams Saleeby (1878 – 9 December 1940) was a doctor, writer, and journalist in the United Kingdom
known for his support of eugenics
, the idea of taking active measures "aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population". During World War I
, he was an advisor to the Minister of Food and advocated the establishment of a Ministry of Health.
, England
.
At Edinburgh University, Saleeby took First Class Honours and was an Ettles Scholar and Scott Scholar in Obstetrics. In 1904, he received his Doctor of Medicine
degree. He was a resident
at the Maternity Hospital and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and briefly at the York City Dispensary.
He became a prolific freelance writer and journalist, with strong views on many subjects.
He became known as an advocate of eugenics: in 1907 he was influential in launching the Eugenics Education Society, and in 1909 he published (in New York) Parenthood and Race Culture. That book described eugenics as being based on selection for parenthood, which determines the nature, fate, and worth of living races.
He was a contributor to the first edition of Arthur Mee
's The Children's Encyclopedia
. Like Mee, he was a keen temperance reformer. Saleeby's contributions to the Encyclopedia were explicitly race realist; he saw mankind as the pinnacle of evolution, and white men as superior to other men, based on "craniometry".
He predicted the use of atomic power, "perhaps not for hundreds of years".
He favoured the education of women, but primarily so that they should become better mothers. In Woman and Womanhood (1912), he wrote: "Women, being constructed by Narure, as individuals, for her racial ends, are happier and more beautiful, live longer and more beautiful lives, when they follow, as mothers or foster-mothers the role of motherhood". Yet, at this time when the suffragette movement was at its peak, he also wrote that he could see no good reason against the vote for women: "I believe in the vote; I believe it will be eugenic".
During World War I, he was an adviser to the Minister of Food and argued in favour of the establishment of a Ministry of Health. Later, he moved away from eugenics, and did not publish any further writings on this subject after 1921—though he continued to write on health matters in particular. He also campaigned for clean air and the benefits of sunlight, founding a Sunlight League in 1924. He was an effective public speaker, and addressed audiences all round the world in support of his favourite causes.
He died on 9 December 1940 from heart failure at Apple Tree, Aldbury, near Tring.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
known for his support of eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
, the idea of taking active measures "aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population". During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was an advisor to the Minister of Food and advocated the establishment of a Ministry of Health.
Biography
Saleeby was the son of E. G. Saleeby. He was born in 1878 in SussexSussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
At Edinburgh University, Saleeby took First Class Honours and was an Ettles Scholar and Scott Scholar in Obstetrics. In 1904, he received his Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree. He was a resident
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
at the Maternity Hospital and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and briefly at the York City Dispensary.
He became a prolific freelance writer and journalist, with strong views on many subjects.
He became known as an advocate of eugenics: in 1907 he was influential in launching the Eugenics Education Society, and in 1909 he published (in New York) Parenthood and Race Culture. That book described eugenics as being based on selection for parenthood, which determines the nature, fate, and worth of living races.
He was a contributor to the first edition of Arthur Mee
Arthur Mee
Arthur Henry Mee was a British writer, journalist and educator. He is best known for The Harmsworth Self-Educator, The Children's Encyclopaedia, The Children's Newspaper, and The King's England...
's The Children's Encyclopedia
The Children's Encyclopedia
The Children's Encyclopædia was an encyclopædia originated by Arthur Mee, and published by the Educational Book Company, a subsidiary of Amalgamated Press of London. It was published from 1908 to 1964. Walter M. Jackson's company Grolier acquired the rights to publish it in the U.S...
. Like Mee, he was a keen temperance reformer. Saleeby's contributions to the Encyclopedia were explicitly race realist; he saw mankind as the pinnacle of evolution, and white men as superior to other men, based on "craniometry".
He predicted the use of atomic power, "perhaps not for hundreds of years".
He favoured the education of women, but primarily so that they should become better mothers. In Woman and Womanhood (1912), he wrote: "Women, being constructed by Narure, as individuals, for her racial ends, are happier and more beautiful, live longer and more beautiful lives, when they follow, as mothers or foster-mothers the role of motherhood". Yet, at this time when the suffragette movement was at its peak, he also wrote that he could see no good reason against the vote for women: "I believe in the vote; I believe it will be eugenic".
During World War I, he was an adviser to the Minister of Food and argued in favour of the establishment of a Ministry of Health. Later, he moved away from eugenics, and did not publish any further writings on this subject after 1921—though he continued to write on health matters in particular. He also campaigned for clean air and the benefits of sunlight, founding a Sunlight League in 1924. He was an effective public speaker, and addressed audiences all round the world in support of his favourite causes.
He died on 9 December 1940 from heart failure at Apple Tree, Aldbury, near Tring.