125th anniversary of the death of William Morris, socialist & beard wearer (1834-1896)
William Morris the socialist and beard wearer died 125 years ago today, 3rd October 1896, died peacefully aged 62.
E P Thompson in his political biography of Morris (Romantic to Revolutionary) noted:
Almost his last words were ‘I want to get mumbo jumbo out of the world’.
His GP reported with ‘unhesitation’ that Morris’s death was due to him being a victim of ‘his enthusiasm for spreading the principles of socialism’.
Another Doctor suggested that the cause of death was ‘simply being William Morris, and having done more work than most ten men’
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