# Thomas Carlyle — On Liberty character guide

> Thomas Carlyle in On Liberty by John Stuart Mill.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Carlyle, Mrs. Carlyle

**First appearance:** 0008-ii-of-the-liberty-of-thought-and-discussion

## Who they are

Scottish essayist and historian, mentioned in context of opposing views.

## Relationships

### [John Stuart Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/characters/john_stuart_mill)

_friendship_

Duplicate entry: The complex friendship between Mill and Carlyle, marked by mutual respect but growing philosophical opposition.

### [Harriet Taylor Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/characters/harriet_taylor_mill)

_social_

Duplicate entry: Carlyle's strained acquaintance with Harriet, whom he viewed as a negative influence on Mill.

### [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/characters/wilhelm_von_humboldt)

_social_

Carlyle and Humboldt are both referenced by Mill as thinkers with contrasting views on authority and individual freedom.

### [George Barnwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/characters/george_barnwell)

_psychological_

George Barnwell is used by Mill as a literary example of a misguided individual, contrasted with Carlyle's hero-worship ideas.

### [Harriet Taylor Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/characters/harriet_taylor_mill)

_social_

Harriet and Carlyle were acquaintances through Mill, with Carlyle often critical of her influence on Mill.

### [John Stuart Mill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/characters/john_stuart_mill)

_friendship_

Mill and Carlyle were close friends and intellectual correspondents, though their philosophical views diverged over time.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/chapters/i)

Mill influenced the writing and success of Carlyle's French Revolution.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/chapters/ii)

A contemporary who described Mrs. Mill with ambiguous epithets and whose manuscript was accidentally burned by Mill's servant.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/characters/thomas_carlyle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_liberty_se/characters