TYLOR, SIR EDWARD BURNETT Eng lish anthropologist, was born at Camberwell, London, on Oct. 2, 1832, the son of Joseph Tylor, a brassfounder. Alfred Tylor, the geologist, was an elder brother. His parents were members of the Society of Friends, at one of whose schools, at Grove House, Tottenham, he was educated. During 1855-1856 he travelled in the United States to recruit his health. Proceeding in 1856 to Cuba, he met Henry Christy the ethnologist, with whom he visited Mexico. While on a visit to Cannes he wrote a record of his observations, entitled Anahuac; or, Mexico and the Mexicans, Ancient and Modern, which was published in 1861. In 1865 ap peared Researches into the Early History of Mankind, which made Tylor's reputation. It showed great research, original insight and much constructive power in the formation of systematic views. The chapters on early myths and their geographical dis tribution are especially valuable. In 1871 he published Primitive Culture: Researches into the Development of Mythology, Philo sophy, Religion, Language, Art and Custom, which at once became the standard general treatise on anthropology. Tylor first deter
mined the limits of animism, intending it to include "the general doctrine of souls, and other spiritual beings." In 1881 Tylor published a smaller and more popular handbook on Anthropology. In 1871 he was elected F.R.S., and in 1883 he became keeper of the University museum at Oxford, and reader in anthropology in 1884. In 1888 he was appointed first Gifford lecturer at Aber deen university, and delivered a two years' course on "Natural Religion." In 1896 he became first professor of anthropology at Oxford. Knighted in 1912, he died on Jan. 2, 1917.
See Anthropological Essays, a volume dedicated and presented to Tylor, which includes a bibliography of his publications by Miss Freire-Marreco, and an appreciation of Tylor by Andrew Lang.