The publication of The Joy of Sex in 1972 generated three million dollars in revenue and established Alex Comfort as an international figure. Beyond this literary success, he maintained a multifaceted career as a physician, biologist, and political theorist, often balancing his medical research with a lifelong commitment to anarchism and pacifist activism.
Medical Training and Scientific Interests
Born in 1920 in Palmers Green, North London, Comfort attended Highgate School before studying medicine at Trinity College, Cambridge. He qualified in 1944, holding diplomas as a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. His academic pursuits were broad, leading to a PhD in 1949 from the University of London for his study of molluscan shell pigments. He later earned a DSc in gerontology in 1962, focusing much of his career on the biology of ageing.
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Comfort identified as an anti-militarist and anarchist, frequently documenting his views in pamphlets such as Peace and Disobedience. During World War II, he registered as a conscientious objector and publicly denounced Allied bombing tactics in the Tribune. His activism continued through the post-war decades, during which he joined the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Committee of 100. In 1961, his participation in protests led to a one-month prison sentence alongside Bertrand Russell.
Relocation and Later Years
In 1973, Comfort moved to Santa Barbara, California, to join the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions. During this period, he became associated with the Sandstone Retreat, a community focused on open sexual practices. Legal disputes regarding his employment eventually preceded his return to England in 1985. Following a severe cerebral hemorrhage in 1991, he lived in Kent until his death on 26 March 2000.
Fast facts
- Born: 1920, London
- Died: 2000, Oxford
- Education: Highgate School, University College London, Trinity College Cambridge
- Key Publication: The Joy of Sex (1972)
- Political Stance: Anarchist and pacifist
- Academic Focus: Gerontology
- Archival Deposit: University College London
Questions readers ask
What was Comfort's stance on human longevity?
He proposed in 1969 that human life expectancy could potentially reach 120 years within two decades, though he rejected the concept of rejuvenation.
Did Comfort hold academic appointments?
Yes, his career included roles as a lecturer in physiology at the London Hospital Medical College and a position at Stanford University.
Achievements
- Held posts at Stanford University
