# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Morell, John Daniel

​MORELL, JOHN DANIEL (1816–1891), philosopher and inspector of schools, born at Little Baddow, Essex, on 18 June 1816, was the ninth child of Stephen Morell by Jemima Robinson, his wife. The family was of French origin, and settled in England on the revocation of the edict of Nantes. The father was a congregationalist minister at Little Baddow from 1799 to 1852. The ministerial calling was widely followed in ​the family, and Morell himself tells us that lie chose it as his own 'destination even from a child.' At seventeen, therefore, he was entered as a probationer at Homerton College under Dr. Pye Smith. He travelled far outside the ordinary class- work, and Greek and Latin, French and German, were added to the study of theology. The theological course over, Morell's health was so impaired that he resolved to qualify himself for teaching, lest pastoral work should be found beyond his strength. From Homerton he accordingly went to Glasgow University, where he read with diligence, and gained the first prize for logic and moral philosophy. He graduated B.A. with honours in 1840, and proceeded M.A. in 1841. Leaving Glasgow, he went, in the summer of 1841, to Bonn, where he gave himself to theology and philosophy, studying under Fichte, whose influence he felt all his life. Returning to England, Morell began his ministry as an independent at Gosport in August 1842, and in October of the same year was fully 'ordained.' His creed was hardly of the type usually associated with the nonconformity of a place like Gosport, and his ministry there closed in 1845.
In 1846 he published his 'Historical and Critical View of the Speculative Philosophy of Europe in the Nineteenth Century.' Though the book came from a young and unknown author, it reached a second edition in the year after its appearance. Not the least of its praises was Mansel's confession, years after its appearance, that this was the book which 'more than any other gave me a taste for philosophical study.' Chalmers was so impressed that he tried to secure for Morell the chair of moral philosophy at Edinburgh. Laurence Oliphant was 'much affected' by it (Life of Laurence Oliphant, i. 217); while Lord Lansdowne, then president of the privy council, who wanted a nonconformist as inspector of schools, offered the post to Morell on reading his book. After some hesitation he accepted the office, and held it from 1848 until 1876. As an inspector Morell was thorough, conscientious, and searching, kindly and sympathetic alike to children and teachers. But the new duties did not arrest Morell's literary work. Four lectures on 'The Philosophical Tendencies of the Age,' delivered in Edinburgh and Glasgow, were followed in 1849 by a careful and suggestive inquiry into 'The Philosophy of Religion,' which was keenly discussed, more especially in Scotland. Profiting by his close acquaintance with elementary school life, Morell in 1852 published the first of his works dealing with English grammar, 'The Analysis of Sentences.' Then came, in 1855, 'The Essentials of English Grammar and Analysis' and the 'Handbook of Logic,' while the 'Grammar of the English Language' appeared in 1857. Few educational works of that period had a larger circulation, and he mainly devoted his leisure thenceforth to their compilation; but the issue of his 'Philosophical Fragments' in 1878 showed that his regard for philosophic inquiry was not diminished. For some years he edited the 'School Magazine,' the pages of which illustrate another side of his literary character by some verses of more than respectable merit. In 1881 Morell's health began to break; softening of the brain developed, and he died on 1 April 1891. He married Elizabeth Morell Wreford, but left no issue.
Morell's own position in metaphysical philosophy was that of an eclectic, with a decided leaning to idealism. His theological position showed the same independence. From the creed of Homerton he passed into a broader faith, which allowed him to worship for some years with protestant nonconformists, then with Anglican churchmen, and finally with Unitarians.
Morell's works were: 1. 'The Catholic Church: a Sermon,' London 1843. 2. 'The Evangelical Alliance,' a tract, London, 1846. 3. 'An Historical and Critical View of the Speculative Philosophy of Europe in the Nineteenth Century,' 2 vols. London, 1846; 2nd edit, enlarged, London and Edinburgh, 1847. 4. 'On the Philosophical Tendencies of the Age,' four lectures, London and Edinburgh, 1848. 5. 'The Philosophy of Religion,' London, 1849. 6. 'The Analysis of Sentences,' London, 1852. 7. 'The Elements of Psychology,' pt. i., London, 1853. 8. 'The Essentials of English Grammar and Analysis,' London, 1855. 9. 'Handbook of Logic,' London, 1855. 10. 'Modern German Philosophy,' 1856. 11. 'Poetical Reading Books, with Aids for Grammatical Analysis, &c.' (with Dr. Ihne), London, 1857. 12. 'A Grammar of the English Language, together with an Exposition of the Analysis of Sentences,' London, 1857; another edition, with exercises, London, 1857. 13. 'A Series of Graduated Exercises, adapted to Morell's Grammar and Analysis,' London, 1857. 14. 'On the Progress of Society in England as affected by the Advancement of National Education,' 1859. 15. 'Fichte's Contributions to Moral Philosophy' (translation), London, 1860. 16. 'An Elementary Reading Book,' London, 1865. 17. 'First Steps in English Grammar,' London, 1871. 18. 'A Complete Manual of Spelling,' London, 1872. 19. 'English Echoes of German Song,' translated by Morell and others, London, 1877. 20. 'Philosophical Fragments,' ​London, 1878. 21. 'Wosco's Compendium of Italian History,' translated and completed, London, 1881. 22. 'Guide to Employment in the Civil Service,' with introduction, 1882. 23. 'An Introduction to Mental Philosophy on the Inductive Method,' London, 1884. 24. 'Hausrath's Antinous' (translation), London, 1884. 25. 'Manual of the History of Philosophy,' London, 1884.
[Theobald's Memorials of J.D. Morell, London, 1891.]
A. R. B.