The term "ethnocentrism" entered the English lexicon through the analytical framework of William Graham Sumner, a polymath who shaped American social science during his long tenure at Yale University. Beyond his academic contributions, he functioned as a vocal critic of imperialism and an early architect of neoclassical liberal thought within the United States.
Academic Foundation and Early Years
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, on October 30, 1840, Sumner spent his formative years in Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale College in 1863, distinguishing himself as both a scholar and an orator. His early education included membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Eschewing service in the American Civil War by funding a substitute, he traveled to Europe for advanced studies. He acquired proficiency in several languages, including Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, and German, while studying at the University of Geneva and the University of Göttingen. His theological training occurred at Oxford University, where he first encountered the sociological theories that would later define his career.
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Ordained as an Episcopal deacon in 1867 and later as a priest, Sumner served as an assistant at Calvary Episcopal Church in Manhattan before becoming the rector of the Church of the Redeemer in Morristown, New Jersey. In 1871, he married Jeannie Whittemore Elliott. Despite his ecclesiastical duties, he gravitated toward academia. By 1872, he returned to Yale University as a professor of political and social science. He held this position until 1909, during which time he inaugurated the first sociology course offered in North America. His eventual detachment from organized religion was gradual, characterized by a shift from the pulpit to the university classroom.
Intellectual Contributions and Legacy
Sumner advocated for laissez-faire economics, free markets, and the gold standard. He was a proponent of the "forgotten man," a concept he used to describe the middle class in the face of prevailing economic pressures. His scholarly output was prolific, encompassing ethics, history, and anthropology. In his 1883 work, What Social Classes Owe to Each Other, he challenged existing social hierarchies and religious biases regarding wealth. In 1908, he assumed the presidency of the American Sociological Association. Sumner died on April 12, 1910, in Englewood and was buried at Alder Brook Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: October 30, 1840, Paterson, New Jersey
- Died: April 12, 1910, Englewood
- Alma Mater: Yale College
- Professional Positions: Professor at Yale University
- Leadership: President of the American Sociological Association (1908-1909)
- Notable Publications: A History of Banking in the United States
- Membership: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Spouse: Jeannie Whittemore Elliott
Questions readers ask
What core economic beliefs did Sumner promote?
He was a staunch supporter of laissez-faire economics, the gold standard, and free market principles.
Did Sumner continue his religious work throughout his life?
No. While he began his career as an Episcopal priest, he eventually resigned to focus entirely on his professorship at Yale, becoming less active in church affairs over time.
Achievements
- Notable work: A History of Banking in the United States
- Held posts at Yale University
