Message by President Michael D. Higgins on the 250th Anniversary of the Birth of William Thompson
Date: Mon 30th Jun, 2025 | 16:40
“May I extend my warmest greetings to all those today marking the life and legacy of William Thompson, on the 250th anniversary of his birth.
It is both fitting and timely that we pause to reflect on the remarkable contributions of a thinker and social reformer, one whom James Connolly would later describe as “the first Irish socialist”, a man whose ideas were not only ahead of their time, but whose vision retains a profound resonance for our contemporary world. His early advocacy of feminism set him among the most finely grounded philosophers of all time.
Born in Cork in 1775, William Thompson emerged as a significant theoretician of early socialism, a towering intellect whose thought would come to influence generations of reformers. He was a foundational voice in the cooperative movement across these islands, from which so much of the socialist ideal found its earliest and most hopeful expression.
Thompson’s writings proposed a deeply humane philosophy of social science aimed at the emancipation of human beings from the oppression of corrupt institutions. Indeed, he was one of the earliest social scientists, seeing the subject as the science of happiness built upon the conviction that a just society is possible.
With great clarity and a powerful moral force, Thompson articulated a vision of a society founded not on acquisition, accumulation, exploitation or inequality, but on cooperation, shared purpose, and dignity for all. His commitment to reason, to ethical deliberation, and to the ideals of justice placed him among the most courageous thinkers of his time, providing inspiration for the reformers of his own century and for generations to come, among them the architects of democratic socialism.
Among his many pioneering contributions was indeed his advocacy for the full emancipation of women. At a time when the marginalisation of women was scarcely acknowledged, Thompson understood that no society can be truly free while half of its citizens remain subordinated, insisting that the cause of justice must necessarily include the liberation and equal participation of women in all aspects of public and private life.
That his voice was later obscured in the dominant, more materialistic narratives of political economy and social reform is a reflection not on the limits of his vision, but on the resistance of his era to ideas that challenged the very foundations of privilege and exclusion.
As we mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Thompson, we are all called to draw upon the radical generosity of his vision, his belief in equality, community, and human dignity, and to renew our commitment to the work of building a more just, compassionate and inclusive society.
The enduring legacy of William Thompson is something we should all seek to emulate, and may his life and thought continue to inspire us all.”