Biography > Other people

William James (1842–1910) was a famous American philosopher and psychologist, the ‘father of American psychology’. Among his most influential books is the two volume work, The Principles of Psychology (1890).   Life William James was born in New York City. His father, a wealthy man, sent his children to European boarding schools and travelled widely […]

James Faucit Cathcart (1828–1902), British actor who gave lessons in dramatic expression and interpretation to the young F. M. Alexander.   F. M. Alexander mentions that he had received instruction from James F. Cathcart in UoS:   I observed that this condition of undue muscle tension affected particularly the use of my legs, feet and […]

J. D. Beresford (1873–1947), English writer who assisted F. M. Alexander drafting some of the early chapters to Alexander’s Man’s Supreme Inheritance (1910).   Life J. D. Beresford was affected by infantile paralysis, which left him partially disabled and he had to use crutches. His father was a clergyman, but J. D. Beresford became a […]

Herbert Spencer (1820–1903), influential English philosopher and prominent liberal political theorist. He is quoted by F. M. Alexander.   Herbert Spencer’s work and philosophy Herbert Spencer espoused a philosophy of inevitable progression and positivism with a belief in a unity of scientific method, a belief in natural law governing everything including human thinking and behaviour. […]

Grahame Fagg (1916–2002), doctor and pupil of Charles Neil.   Grahame Fagg qualified in 1938 at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, and served in India during World War II. He joined the Luton Children’s Annexe in 1950, before moving to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital and later joining the Lister Hospital in Stevenage.[1] He was […]

François (Alexandre N. C.) Delsarte (1811–71), French teacher of singing and acting, known for being the founder of a method of expression known as the Delsarte System.   The Delsarte System Acting in the early 19th century was mechanical and stereotyped; Delsarte represented one of the first modern attempts to develop a dramatic technique in […]

Dorando Pietri (1885–1942), Italian marathon runner, whose running style in the 1908 London Olympic Games was commented upon by F. M. Alexander.   Life and 1908 London Olympic Games Dorando Pietri first participated in cycling competitions in 1903 but soon turned to running. He became famous by winning the Paris Amateur Marathon (30 km) in […]