English writer, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon, and photographer, considered a master in the genre of nonsense literature. He is particularly remembered for his children?s books, “Alice?s Adventures in Wonderland, “1865, and its sequel, “Through the Looking Glass,” 1871.
Born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, he was the oldest son and third child in a family of seven girls and four boys. His father, Reverend Charles Dodgson, was the perpetual curate at the old parsonage at Daresbury from 1827-43, and his mother was Frances Jane Lutwidge. Growing up in an isolated area, Carroll had few friends, but he and his siblings always found ways to entertain themselves. As a young child, Carroll showed an aptitude for inventing games and making up stories. When he was 12 years old, the family moved to Croft in Yorkshire, where his father became rector; Carroll was now expected to contribute to “Rectory Magazines,” a compilation of manuscripts. He not only contributed but was the author of nearly all that survive.
He was educated at Richmond School in Yorkshire from 1844-45, and then at Rugby School from 1846-50; inherently shy, he disliked public school. Additionally he suffered from a bad stammer, and was often the target of bullies. After leaving Rugby, he studied under his father?s guidance for a year, and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, on 5/23/1850, going into residence as an undergraduate on 1/24/1851. Excelling in his classical and mathematical studies during 1852, Carroll was given a studentship, and in 1854, he graduated first in his class. He moved on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in December of that same year. In 1855, he was made “Master of the House.” He was appointed lecturer in mathematics, a post he held until 1881.
Carroll was ordained a deacon in the Church of England on 12/22/1861, and could have continued on to become a priest, a position that would have allowed him to marry. He seemed perfectly content, however, to remain single and was often described as a “shy, fussy bachelor.”
His love of children seemed natural and innocent in nature. Carroll had not only grown up in a large family, but his stammer disappeared completely when he was speaking with children. He began to entertain the children of the families in the community, and he would keep them amused with what seemed like an endless store of fantastical tales. As he made up the stories, drawing on incidents in his life, Carroll would sketch his characters on a sheet of paper; his tales held the children spellbound. Prompted to publish his stories by the novelist Henry Kinsley, Carroll?s “Alice” became the most popular children?s book in England, perhaps the most famous in the world. He authored several books on mathematics as well, with “Euclid and His Modern Rivals,” 1879, being the most well known.
Early in his life, he wanted to become an artist; however, failing in this pursuit, he instead became a photographer, specializing in studies of children in every possible situation and costume, including nudes. In 1880, he abandoned his photographic work, apparently amid much speculation about his motives as suspicions remained that his pleasure in children had sexual overtones.
Often regarded as a crank, Carroll enjoyed good health throughout his life. He often took long walks, and just prior to his final illness, he walked 18 miles to visit his sister. The visit was prolonged when he developed the bad cold, fever and bronchial complications that led to his death on 1/14/1898, 2:30 PM, Guildford, England.
Link to Wikipedia biography