Karl Marx co-wrote the Communist Manifesto and took part in the early Communist movement.
Karl Heinrich Marx was born in Prussia on May 5, 1818. His family was Jewish, but his father became a Lutheran in order to practice law.
Marx’s father wanted him to become a lawyer, but Marx was interested in philosophy and literature. In 1841, he graduated in philosophy from the University of Berlin and hoped to teach at a university. This did not work out and he had to make his living as a journalist. In 1843, he moved to Paris, where he began his lifelong study of economics.
Marx was married in 1843, and he and his wife, Jenny, had seven children. He was a devoted father.
In 1845, he and his family moved to Belgium where he became active in the Communist movement. In 1848, he and Friedrich Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto. Between 1848 and 1849, Marx was expelled from Belgium, Germany, and France for his radical activities. Late in 1849, he and his family settled in London, where he lived out his life.
In London, Marx worked as a journalist and remained active in the Communist movement for several years. By 1872, he was mainly offering advice to radicals in other countries.
Over the years, Marx wrote countless newspaper articles, brochures, and reports. He was fluent in several languages and wrote particularly well in English. He also wrote five books. In 1867, his most famous book, Das Kapital (Capital), was published. In it, he explained his ideas on how economic systems shape history. He believed that a communist system would eventually replace capitalism. His book and his ideas have influenced many people and many governments around the world.
In the last 20 years of his life, Marx suffered ill health. By about 1870, his health prevented him from working as much as he would like. He died in London on March 14, 1883.
