Comte de Saint-Simon

Comte de Saint-Simon (1760-1825), French socialist, born in Paris. At the age of 16 he went to the United States to fight in the American War of Independence. When he returned to France, he supported the Revolution there, giving up his title. He is considered one of the founders of modern socialism. His writings present arguments in favour of a social organization directed by men of science and industry for the benefit of the whole society. The students of Saint-Simon organized and popularized his ideas after his death, and his principles became known as the philosophy of Saint-Simonianism. His major work is Le nouveau Christianisme (The New Christianity, 1825).