James Sully, 1842-1923

After obtaining a degree at Regents Park College in London, Sully went to Gottingen in 1867 to study for the London University MA. From 1869 to 1870 he was a classical tutor at the Baptist College, Pontypool. In 1871 he assisted John Morley, then Editor of the 'Fortnightly Review', with correspondence, proof-reading etc. and he began to write for the 'Fortnightly' and the 'Saturday Review'. In 1873 Sully was first invited to contribute an article on aesthetics to the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica' and in the following year 'Sensation and intuition' was published. He subsequently contributed to articles to several journals, including 'The Academy', 'The Contemporary Review', 'The Cornhill Magazine', 'The Examiner' and 'Mind'. In 1877 'Pessimism' was published. Sully became an Examiner in Logic and Philosophy in 1878 at the University of London. The following year he was Lecturer in the Theory of Education at the Maria Grey Training College and the College of Preceptors. A series of publications followed: 'Illusions' in 1881; 'Outlines of Psychology' in 1884; 'A teachers's handbook of psychology' in 1886 and 'The human mind' in 1892. In 1892 Sully was elected to the vacant chair of Mind and Logic at University College London on the resignation of George Croom Robertson. In 1895 'Studies of childhood' was published and in 1902 'An essay on laughter' was published. In 1903 Sully resigned from his Professorship and in 1918 published 'My life and friends'.

From the guide to the Sully Papers, 1870-1915, (GB 103/UCL0006)