How much did things cost in 1850's USA?

Here's a small list of various things from 1850's (and 1840's and 1860's) and how much they cost.  I've also included a list of jobs with their respective wages/salaries so that you can see how long you would've had to work to buy a kilogram of salted beef, or a colt revolver, or a pair of boots, or the 'Mexican Cession' (New Mexico and California), or whatever.

All of the figures have been standardised to kilograms and litres for ease of comparison (nearly all of the original data was in a numerous measures including lbs, bushels, gallons, quarts, barrels etc).  The wages have also been standardised to days, weeks and years also for ease of comparison. 

The original sources for all of the data is listed on the right hand side, and the hyperlinks for these sources are at the bottom of the page.

If you want to find the cost of a particular item, like a horse or a loaf of bread, then just press 'Ctrl' and 'F' on your keyboard and type the item in question.

If you are interested in manipulating the data further (e.g. putting all of the 'coffee' data in one collumn and comparing the variation in price) then it should be relatively easy to transfer the data into a spreadsheet.

Occupational Income	Income Per:
Occupation	Day	Week	Year	Year	Location	Source

Common Labouer	$0.88	$4.40	$228.00	1851	Lake Erie Canal	[15]
Carpenter	$1.50	$7.50	$390.00	1851	Lake Erie Canal	[15]
Common Labouer	$1.00	$5.00	$260.00	1854	Lake Erie Canal	[15]
Carpenter	$1.75	$8.75	$455.80	1854	Lake Erie Canal	[15]
Laborer	$0.41	$2.05	$106.60	1821-30	Philadelphia	[16]
Laborer	$0.43	$2.15	$111.74	1821-30	Philadelphia	[16]
Laborer	$0.44	$2.20	$114.60	1841-50	Brandywine	[16]
Laborer	$0.40	$2.00	$104.00	1841-50	Maryland	[16]
Laborer	$0.50	$2.50	$130.00	1841-50	Massachussetts	[16]
Laborer	$0.53	$2.63	$136.80	1841-50	Maryland	[16]
Trapper	$11.54	$57.69	$3,000.00	1831	Utah	[17]
Trapper	$1.15	$5.77	$300.00	1840	Utah	[17]
Unspecified general labour	$1.92	$9.62	$500.00	1840	Utah	[17]
Unskilled Laborer	$0.75	$3.75	$195.00	1840's	n/a	[18]
Shirtmaker (Paid for each shirt made, female)	$0.18	$0.90	$46.80	1833	New York	[18]
Railroad Contractor (Irish)	$0.55	$2.75	$143.00	1851-1852	New York	[18]
Pony Station Rider [with board and room]	$2.31	$11.54	$600.00	1860	California	[1]
Gold Miner	$10.00	$50.00	$2,600.00	1860	California	[2]

The Union Army:
Private [Up to 20 June 64]	$0.60	$3.00	$156.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Private [from June 1864]	$0.74	$3.69	$192.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Corporal [Union NCOs were paid at a similar rate to Confederacy NCOs]	$0.60	$3.00	$156.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
'Buck' Sergeants [Union NCOs were paid at a similar rate to Confederacy NCOs]	$0.78	$3.92	$204.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
First Sergeants [Union NCOs were paid at a similar rate to Confederacy NCOs]	$0.92	$4.62	$240.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Engineer Sergeants [Union NCOs were paid at a similar rate to Confederacy NCOs]	$1.57	$7.85	$408.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
First Lieutenant	$4.87	$24.35	$1,266.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Second Lieutenant	$4.87	$24.35	$1,266.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Captain	$5.33	$26.62	$1,386.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Staff Officer	$5.56	$27.81	$1,446.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Major	$7.80	$39.00	$2,028.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Lieutenant Colonel	$8.35	$41.77	$2,172.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Colonel	$9.78	$48.92	$2,544.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
One star General	$14.54	$72.69	$3,780.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Two star General	$21.09	$105.46	$5,484.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Three star general	$34.98	$174.92	$9,096.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
The Confederate Army:
Private [Up to June 1864]	$0.51	$2.54	$132.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Private [from June 1864]	$0.83	$4.15	$216.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Corporal	$0.60	$3.00	$156.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
'Buck' Sergeants	$0.78	$3.92	$204.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
First Sergeants	$0.92	$4.62	$240.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Engineer Sergeants	$1.57	$7.85	$408.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Colonel (infantry)	$9.00	$45.00	$2,340.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Colonel (artillery, engineer, cavalry)	$9.69	$48.46	$2,520.00	1860's	n/a	[19]
Brigadier General (1 star General)	$13.89	$69.46	$3,612.00	1860's	n/a	[19]

Commodities:		Cost per X Units: [1], [2]
Item	Unit of Measure	1 Unit	1000 Units	Year	Location	Source
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.40	$396.48	1853	Texas	[1]
Beans	Litre	$0.09	$92.45	1853	Texas	[1]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.11	$110.13	1853	Texas	[1]
Hard Bread	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1853	Texas	[1]
Rice	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1853	Texas	[1]
Bacon	Kilogram	$0.33	$330.40	1853	Texas	[1]
Fresh Beef	Kilogram	$0.11	$110.13	1853	Texas	[1]
Pork	Kilogram	$0.24	$242.29	1853	Texas	[1]
Salt Beef	Kilogram	$0.20	$198.24	1853	Texas	[1]
Sugar	Kilogram	$0.18	$176.21	1853	Texas	[1]
Vinegar	Litre	$0.06	$55.03	1853	Texas	[1]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Tea	Kilogram	$1.65	$1,651.98	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Butter	Kilogram	$0.40	$396.48	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Cheese	Kilogram	$0.31	$308.37	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Eggs	Each	$0.02	$15.00	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Lard	Kilogram	$0.26	$264.32	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Cranberries	Litre	$0.11	$105.66	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Currants	Kilogram	$0.26	$264.32	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Dried apples	Kilogram	$0.20	$198.24	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Dried peaches	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Hubbard squash	Kilogram	$0.02	$22.03	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Lemons	Each	$0.03	$30.00	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Potatoes	Kilogram	$0.01	$8.44	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Raisins	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Squashes	Each	$0.03	$30.00	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Sweet potatoes	Kilogram	$0.07	$73.42	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Barley	Kilogram	$0.01	$9.91	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Bran & shorts	Kilogram	$0.01	$13.22	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Corn meal	Kilogram	$0.04	$44.05	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Indian corn in cobb	Kilogram	$0.01	$5.51	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Indian corn, shelled	Kilogram	$0.01	$7.71	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Oats	Kilogram	$0.00	$4.41	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Rye	Kilogram	$0.01	$9.91	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Rye flour	Kilogram	$0.05	$49.56	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Wheat	Kilogram	$0.01	$14.32	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Wheat flour	Kilogram	$0.05	$52.86	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Beef	Kilogram	$0.07	$66.08	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Codfish	Kilogram	$0.13	$132.16	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Hams	Kilogram	$0.31	$308.37	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Hobs	Kilogram	$0.13	$132.16	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Lake Michigan trout	Kilogram	$0.18	$176.21	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Lambs	Kilogram	$0.05	$51.76	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Veal calves (6 weeks old)	Kilogram	$0.07	$66.08	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Brown sugar	Kilogram	$0.20	$198.24	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Common salt	Kilogram	$0.06	$60.57	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Honey	Kilogram	$0.55	$550.66	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Molasses	Litre	$0.11	$110.06	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Vinegar (cider)	Litre	$0.06	$55.03	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
White sugar	Kilogram	$0.31	$308.37	1861	Wisconsin	[1]
Cheese	Kilogram	$3.30	$3,303.96	1849	California	[2]
Flour	Kilogram	$1.10	$1,101.32	1849	California	[2]
Fresh beef	Kilogram	$0.77	$770.93	1849	California	[2]
Pork	Kilogram	$1.65	$1,651.98	1849	California	[2]
Sugar	Kilogram	$1.10	$1,101.32	1849	California	[2]
Brick	Each	$0.08	$80.00	1849	California	[2]
Lumber	Each	$0.15	$150.00	1849	California	[2]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.35	$352.42	1849	California	[2]
Teas	Kilogram	$2.20	$2,202.64	1849	California	[2]
Butter	Kilogram	$2.20	$2,202.64	1849	California	[2]
Cheese	Kilogram	$2.20	$2,202.64	1849	California	[2]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.40	$396.48	1849	California	[2]
Rice	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1849	California	[2]
Fresh Pork	Kilogram	$0.55	$550.66	1849	California	[2]
Ham	Kilogram	$2.20	$2,202.64	1849	California	[2]
Blankets	Each	$100.00	$100,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Boots	Pair	$25.00	$25,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Shoes	Pair	$12.00	$12,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.73	$726.87	1849	California	[2]
Beans	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1849	California	[2]
Potatoes	Kilogram	$0.31	$308.37	1849	California	[2]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.88	$881.06	1849	California	[2]
Rice	Kilogram	$0.66	$660.79	1849	California	[2]
Sugar	Kilogram	$0.66	$660.79	1849	California	[2]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.66	$660.79	1849	California	[2]
Beef	Kilogram	$1.65	$1,651.98	1849	California	[2]
Salt Pork	Kilogram	$1.65	$1,651.98	1849	California	[2]
Molasses	Litre	$0.88	$880.50	1849	California	[2]
Sugar	Kilogram	$1.10	$1,101.32	1849	California	[2]
Mining Cradles	Each	$60.00	$6,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Mining Pans	Each	$8.00	$8,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Mules	Each	$150.00	$150,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Oxen	Each	$150.00	$150,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Wagons	Each	$80.00	$80,000.00	1849	California	[2]
Mocassins	Pair	$1.00	$1,000.00	1849	Utah	[3]
Butter	Kilogram	$0.44	$440.53	1849	Utah	[3]
Cheese	Kilogram	$0.55	$550.66	1849	Utah	[3]
Milk	Litre	$0.09	$88.05	1849	Utah	[3]
Potatoes	Kilogram	$0.04	$36.71	1849	Utah	[3]
Flour	Kilogram	$0.04	$44.05	1849	Utah	[3]
Beef	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1849	Utah	[3]
Sugar	Kilogram	$1.10	$1,101.32	1849	Utah	[3]
Hay	Kilogram	$0.04	$44.05	1850	n/a	[4]
Hemp	Kilogram	$0.11	$110.13	1850	n/a	[4]
Hops	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1850	n/a	[4]
Flax	Kilogram	$0.33	$330.40	1850	n/a	[4]
Maple Syrup	Kilogram	$0.18	$176.21	1850	n/a	[4]
Tobacco	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1850	n/a	[4]
Wool	Kilogram	$0.77	$770.93	1850	n/a	[4]
Butter and Cheese	Kilogram	$0.33	$330.40	1850	n/a	[4]
Beeswax and Honey	Kilogram	$0.33	$330.40	1850	n/a	[4]
Cotton	Kilogram	$0.18	$176.21	1850	n/a	[4]
Rice	Kilogram	$0.09	$88.16	1850	n/a	[4]
Rum	Litre	$0.17	$170.00	1833	n/a	[5]
Beef	Kilogram	$0.07	$66.00	1847	n/a	[5]
Butter	Kilogram	$0.38	$380.00	1848	n/a	[5]
Whisky	Litre	$0.08	$80.00	1848	n/a	[5]
Sugar	Kilogram	$0.19	$190.00	1850	n/a	[5]
Pork	Kilogram	$0.13	$130.00	1850	n/a	[5]
Bacon	Kilogram	$0.20	$200.00	1850	n/a	[5]
Blanket (serape)	Each	$80.00	$80,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Handkerchief	Each	$1.08	$1,080.00	1849	California	[6]
Flannel Shirt	Each	$8.00	$8,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Blankets (bed)	Each	$25.00	$25,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Boots	Pair	$24.00	$24,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Uniform Jacket	Each	$32.00	$32,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Thread	Kilogram	$2.25	$2,250.00	1849	California	[6]
Trousers	Each	$18.00	$18,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Tin of Crackers	Each	$8.50	$8,500.00	1849	California	[6]
Box of Chocolates	Each	$40.00	$40,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Tea Set	Each	$24.00	$24,000.00	1849	California	[6]
Tobacco	Kilogram	$0.06	$60.57	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Feathers	Kilogram	$0.55	$550.66	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Cured Meat	Kilogram	$0.13	$132.16	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Eggs	Each	$0.01	$5.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Whisky	Litre	$0.08	$83.63	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Sugar	Kilogram	$0.22	$220.26	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.28	$275.33	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Pepper	Kilogram	$0.57	$572.69	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Coffee	Kilogram	$0.28	$275.33	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Fine Tooth Comb	Each	$0.15	$150.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Tuck Comb	Each	$0.17	$170.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Candles	Kilogram	$0.28	$275.33	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Tallow	Kilogram	$0.14	$139.50	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Ball of Candle Wick	Each	$0.13	$130.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Candle Molds	Pair	$0.87	$870.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Whisky	Litre	$0.08	$83.63	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Whisky	Litre	$0.04	$44.01	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Whisky Barrel (Empty)	Each	$0.50	$500.00	1846	Kentucky	[7]
Pelts	Kilogram	$13.22	$13,215.86	1831	Utah	[8]
Pelts	Kilogram	$4.41	$4,405.29	1840	Utah	[8]
Colt Revolver	Each	$10.00	$10,000.00	1847	n/a	[9]
Colt Revolver (Retail Price)	Each	$25.00	$25,000.00	1861	Missouri	[10]
Springfield Model 1861 Rifle	Each	$20.00	$20,000.00	1861	n/a	[11]
Springfield Model 1861 Rifle (Manufacturing cost at the official armory)	Each	$12.00	$12,000.00	1861	n/a	[12]
Springfield Model 1861 Rifle (Manufacturing cost at private armories)	Each	$14.00	$14,000.00		n/a	[12]
Gatling Gun	Each	$1,000.00	$1,000,000.00	1864	n/a	[12]
Slave ('in the prime of his life')	Each	$1,600.00		1859	Georgia	[14]
Slave (mean average price at the auction)	Each	$708.28		1859	Georgia	[14]
Slave (injured)	Each	$300.00		1859	Georgia	[14]
Slave	Each	$400.00		1850	Southern States	[4]
Slave ('Prime Field Hand')	Each	$1,800.00		1860	Southern States	[12]
Horse	Each	$120		1861	n/a	[12]
Horse	Each	$185		1865	n/a	[12]
Restaurant Food
Item	Unit	Cost		Year	Location	Source
Cup of chocolate (hot chocolate)	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Mammoth glass of Mason Celebrated Beer	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Clam chowder	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Hot oatmeal mush	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Beefsteak and onions, with fried potatoes	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Boiled mutton with oyster sauce	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Chicken pot pie	Each	$0.20		1850's	California	[1]
Pig's feet, soused or in batter	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Porterhouse steak	Each	$0.25		1850's	California	[1]
Roast beef with lima beans	Each	$0.10		1850's	California	[1]
Roast turkey and currant jelly	Each	$0.25		1850's	California	[1]
Stewed mutton with bread, butter and potatoes	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Baked Apples	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Buckwheat cakes with honey	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Stewed prunes	Each	$0.05		1850's	California	[1]
Ale (bottle)	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Champagne (bottle)	Each	$5.00		1850's	California	[1]
Champagne cider (bottle)	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Claret (bottle)	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Old Madeira (bottle)	Each	$4.00		1850's	California	[1]
Pale sherry (bottle)	Each	$3.00		1850's	California	[1]
Baked sweet potatotes	Each	$0.50		1850's	California	[1]
Boiled Irish Potatoes	Each	$0.50		1850's	California	[1]
Cabbage	Each	$0.50		1850's	California	[1]
Cheese	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]
Ox tail soup	Each	$1.00		1850's	California	[1]
Squash	Each	$0.50		1850's	California	[1]
Baked trout, white and anchovy sauce	Each	$1.50		1850's	California	[1]
Beef stewed with onions	Each	$1.25		1850's	California	[1]
Curried sausages	Each	$1.00		1850's	California	[1]
Pork & apple sauce	Each	$1.25		1850's	California	[1]
Roast beef, Stuffled lamb or mutton	Each	$1.00		1850's	California	[1]
Stewed Kidney, Sauce de Champagne	Each	$1.25		1850's	California	[1]
Tenderloin lamb, green peas	Each	$1.25		1850's	California	[1]
Apple Pie	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]
Brandy peach pastry	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Bread pudding	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]
Jelly Omelette	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Mince Pie	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]
Rum Omelette	Each	$2.00		1850's	California	[1]
Stewed Prunes	Each	$0.75		1850's	California	[1]

Sources:

[1]   http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpioneer.html

[2]   http://www.kidport.com/Reflib/UsaHistory/CalGoldRush/lifeof49er.htm

[3]   http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/pioneers_and_cowboys/index.html

[4]   http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/helper/helper.html [page 65]

[5]   http://gpih.ucdavis.edu/files/Maryland_1752-1856.xls

[6]   http://www.road-kill-cafe.com/forbestown/faq.html

[7]   http://www.nkyviews.com/owen/text/store_ledger.html

[8]      http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/trappers,_traders,_and_explorers/traderstrappersandmountianmen.html

[9]   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Colt

[10]  http://www.civilwarhome.com/potpourr.htm

[11]  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_Model_1861

[12]  http://www.civilwarhome.com/potpourr.htm

[14]  http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/slaveauction.htm

[15]  http://facweb.furman.edu/~benson/docs/wage4570.htm

[16]  http://gpih.ucdavis.edu/files/Maryland_1752-1856.xls

[17]      http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/trappers,_traders,_and_explorers/traderstrappersandmountianmen.html

[18]  http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1990/5/90.05.07.x.html

[19]  www.civilwarhome.com

Footnotes:

Footnote 1:

The metrics from the orginal source data has been standardised for the sake of uniformity, and to allow like for like comparison between items.

lbs are taken as 0.454kg; pints as 0.568 litres; gallons as 4.546 litres; bushels are taken as 36.368 litres; quarts are taken as 1.136 litres;

Footnote 2:

Many of the prices in the source data gave a price range, marked by a low figure and a high figure.

If that is the case, then the figures given in this listing are of the higher figure, the higher possible price.

Footnote 3:

As the source data only provided income for one period of time (either day, week, month or year), that piece of information has been listed.  If the income data provided by the orginial source was in months, then it has been multipled by 12 to give the income per year, and then divided by 52 to give the income per week, and then 5 to give the income per day.  This works out to 260 working days per year.

[End.]

Havamal Snippets 36: The value of self-sufficiency

It's Wednesday (Woden/Odin's Day) which means that it's time for another verse from the Havamal 'Sayings of the High One - Odin'. The poem full of wisdom, both everyday and ethereal. (The poem can be found in full HERE):

36. One’s own house is best,
small though it be;
at home is every one his own master.
Though he but two goats possess,
and a straw-thatched cot,
even that is better than begging.

(Source: http://heathengods.com/havamal/thorpe.htm)

Self sufficiency is more honourable than begging or behaving like a parasite, even though you may be poor.


[End.]

Havamal Snippets 35: Never overstay your welcome

It's Wednesday (Woden/Odin's Day) which means that it's time for another verse from the Havamal 'Sayings of the High One - Odin'. The poem full of wisdom, both everyday and ethereal. (The poem can be found in full HERE):

35. A guest should depart,
not always stay
in one place.
The welcome becomes unwelcome,
if he too long continues
in another’s house.

(Source: http://heathengods.com/havamal/thorpe.htm)

Never overstay your welcome, whatever the time frame (a few minute conversation, an evening socialising, a day with friends, a week with family.


[End.]

Men of Yore: King Alfred (The Great)

This is another in a series of posts about men from history who have either achieved great things in one form or another by pushing boundaries: either in themselves or in society or science or exploration of some form.  Boundary pushing and growth is what men do, it's their nature: to grow and push outwards.  We, as men, are the frontiersmen/the vanguard, the first to discover/uncover new territory, in a metaphysical sense (i.e. including both material and the immaterial) that is later colonised and 'civilised' by the rest of humanity. 

It is also partly intended to show images, be they paintings, statues or photographs of the countenances of men of yore.  Because, quite frankly, many men wear the countenances of women these days: smiling, smirking, cooing, rolling their eyes, looking smug etc.  It's a sign of the times, and by showing some images of men from the past, I hope to show some modern men why looking surly, frowning and giving hard-ball stares at people is something to do, something to practise.

King Alfred (from a statue in Winchester built in 1899)

Source: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47821000/jpg/_47821601_dscf6174.jpg

Alfred the Great (Old English: Ælfrēd, Ælfrǣd

, "elf counsel"; 849 – 26 October 899) was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.

Alfred successfully defended his kingdom against the Viking attempt at conquest, and by the time of his death had become the dominant ruler in England.^[1] He is the only English monarch to be accorded the epithet "the Great".^[2][3] Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself "King of the Anglo-Saxons". Details of his life are described in a work by the 10th century Welsh scholar and bishop Asser. Alfred was a learned and merciful man who encouraged education and improved his kingdom's legal system and military structure.

[..]

Bishop Asser tells the story of how as a child Alfred won a prize of a volume of poetry in English, offered by his mother to the first of her children able to memorise it. Legend also has it that the young Alfred spent time in Ireland seeking healing. Alfred was troubled by health problems throughout his life.  Alfred was troubled by health problems throughout his life. It is thought that he may have suffered from Crohn's disease.  Evidence suggests he was not physically strong, and though not lacking in courage, he was more noted for his intellect than a warlike character.

[..]

Reconstituted Fyrd

Over the last two decades of his reign, Alfred undertook a radical reorganisation of the military institutions of his kingdom, strengthened the West Saxon economy through a policy of monetary reform and urban planning and strove to win divine favour by resurrecting the literary glories of earlier generations of Anglo-Saxons. Alfred pursued these ambitious programmes to fulfill, as he saw it, his responsibility as king.

[..]

Legal Reform:

In the late 880s or early 890s, Alfred issued a long domboc or law code, consisting of his "own" laws followed by a code issued by his late seventh-century predecessor King Ine of Wessex. Together these laws are arranged into 120 chapters. In his introduction, Alfred explains that he gathered together the laws he found in many "synod-books" and "ordered to be written many of the ones that our forefathers observed—those that pleased me; and many of the ones that did not please me, I rejected with the advice of my councillors, and commanded them to be observed in a different way."

[..]

Appearance and Character:

Asser, in his Life of King Alfred, wrote of him, "He was loved by his father and mother, and even by all the people, above all his brothers, and was educated altogether at the court of the king. As he advanced through the years of infancy and youth, his form appeared more comely than that of his brothers; in look, in speech, and in manners he was more graceful than they. His noble nature implanted in him from his cradle a love of wisdom above all things; but, with shame be it spoken, by the unworthy neglect of his parents and nurses, he remained illiterate even till he was twelve years old or more; but, he listened with serious attention to the Saxon poems which he often heard recited, and easily retained them in his docile memory. He was a zealous practiser of hunting in all its branches, and hunted with great assiduity and success; for skill and good fortune in this art, as in all others, are among the gifts of God, as we also have often witnessed.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great

Though lacking in physical strength he still outperformed his adversaries in the matter of warfare (re-organising the army and constructing impressive defensive works).  He also created a new legal system ex nihlo which shows true creativity, as well as taking responsibility/accountability for the laws that he made, i.e. he didn’t defer to any higher power or authority; and that is a true mark of a man: taking responsibility for ones actions and thoughts.

Check out some of the other entries from the 'Men of Yore' series:

John MacDouall Stuart
Richard Trevithick
Wyatt Earp
William 'Wild Bill' Cody
Andrew Carnegie
Duke of Viseu (Henry the Navigator)
Meriwether Lewis
Arthur Schopenhauer
Theodore Roosevelt
Rudolph Diesel
John Snow
Ludwig van Beethoven
Henry Ford
George Custer

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Havamal Snippets 34: Many friends make light work

It's Wednesday (Woden/Odin's Day) which means that it's time for another verse from the Havamal 'Sayings of the High One - Odin'. The poem full of wisdom, both everyday and ethereal. (The poem can be found in full HERE):

34. Long is and indirect the way
to a bad friend’s,
though by the road he dwell;
but to a good friend’s
the paths lie direct,
though he be far away.

(Source: http://heathengods.com/havamal/thorpe.htm)

Having friends eases your burden. 'Many friends make light work'. Those with fewer friends, though they may be endowed with greater material and/or immaterial wealth, will find a journey harder.


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Havamal Snippets 33: A merit of forward thinking

It's Wednesday (Woden/Odin's Day) which means that it's time for another verse from the Havamal 'Sayings of the High One - Odin'. The poem full of wisdom, both everyday and ethereal. (The poem can be found in full HERE):

33. Early meals
a man should often take,
unless to a friend’s house he goes;
else he will sit and mope,
will seem half-famished,
and can of few things inquire.

(Source: http://heathengods.com/havamal/thorpe.htm)

A little foreward thinking/planning for the day.


[End.]

Men of Yore: John Macdouall Stuart

This is another in a series of posts about men from history who have either achieved great things in one form or another by pushing boundaries: either in themselves or in society or science or exploration of some form.  Boundary pushing and growth is what men do, it's their nature: to grow and push outwards.  We, as men, are the frontiersmen/the vanguard, the first to discover/uncover new territory, in a metaphysical sense (i.e. including both material and the immaterial) that is later colonised and 'civilised' by the rest of humanity. 

It is also partly intended to show images, be they paintings, statues or photographs of the countenaces of men of yore.  Because, quite frankly, many men wear the countenances of women these days: smiling, smirking, cooing, rolling their eyes, looking smug etc.  It's a sign of the times, and by showing some images of men from the past, I hope to show some modern men why looking surly, frowning and giving hard-ball stares at people is something to do, something to practice.

John Macdouall Stuart, ca. 1860 (aged 35)

John McDouall Stuart (7 September 1815 – 5 June 1866) was one of the most accomplished and famous of all Australia's inland explorers.
Stuart led the first successful expedition to traverse the Australian mainland from south to north and return, and the first to do so from a starting point in South Australia, achieving this despite poor backing from the Government of South Australia. His experience and the care he showed for his team ensured he never lost a man, despite the harshness of the country he encountered.
The explorations of Stuart eventually resulted in the Australian Overland Telegraph Line being built and the main route from Port Augusta to Darwin being established, which is now known as the Stuart Highway in his honour.
[..]
Born in Dysart, Fife, Scotland, Stuart was the youngest of nine children. His father was a retired army captain serving as a customs officer. Stuart's parents died when he was in his early teens and he came under the care of relatives. He graduated from the Scottish Naval and Military Academy as a civil engineer before emigrating to Australia in 1838 at the age of 23. Stuart was a slight, delicately built young man, standing about 5' 6" tall (168 cm) and weighing less than 9 stone (about 55 kg).
In 1839 he arrived in the three-year-old frontier colony of South Australia, at that time little more than a single crowded outpost of tents and dirt floored wooden huts. Stuart soon found employment as a public surveyor, working in the semi-arid scrub of the newly settled districts marking out blocks for settlers and miners. In 1842 the committee he was working for reduced the number of employees and Stuart lost his job. Stuart became a private surveyor and kept working in the remote areas he loved. Life in the surveying camps was harsh but Stuart rapidly earned a reputation for extraordinary accuracy
[..]
His character and last days
Stuart was physically a small wiry man with a great fondness for strong drink, able to endure privations and possessing a fierce determination which overrode any thought of personal comfort. He has not gregarious; he had some good friends but was happiest away from crowds. He cared little for dress; he had a full dark beard and habitually wore grubby moleskin trousers and an unfashionable long-tailed blue coat with brass buttons and cabbage-tree hat.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McDouall_Stuart



Footnote: the date for the photograph was taken from the site: http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/00750/B501.htm




Check out some of the other entries from the 'Men of Yore' series:
Richard Trevithick
Wyatt Earp
William 'Wild Bill' Cody
Andrew Carnegie
Duke of Viseu (Henry the Navigator)
Meriwether Lewis
Arthur Schopenhauer
Theodore Roosevelt
Rudolph Diesel
John Snow
Ludwig van Beethoven
Henry Ford
George Custer



[End.]