Friedrich Engels (1820–1895) was a German philosopher, social scientist, and political theorist who, along with Karl Marx, co-authored some of the most influential works in the field of political philosophy. Engels was born on November 28, 1820, in Barmen, Prussia (now in Germany), and he died on August 5, 1895, in London.
Engels came from a wealthy industrialist family and was able to pursue intellectual interests. He became associated with radical and socialist ideas during his time in Manchester, England, where he worked at his father's cotton textile firm. It was in Manchester that he met Karl Marx in 1842, beginning a lifelong intellectual partnership.
Engels and Marx collaborated on several important works, including "The Communist Manifesto" (1848) and "Das Kapital" (Capital), though Marx was the primary author of the latter. Engels played a significant role in shaping and popularizing Marxist theory, and he continued to advocate for socialist and communist ideas after Marx's death in 1883.
Apart from his collaboration with Marx, Engels also wrote extensively on his own. Some of his notable works include "The Condition of the Working Class in England" (1845), "The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State" (1884), and "Socialism: Utopian and Scientific" (1880).
Engels' contributions to Marxist theory include his emphasis on the role of class struggle, historical materialism, and the concept of dialectical materialism. His writings have had a profound impact on socialist and communist movements around the world, influencing political thought and activism well into the 20th century and beyond.
