Havelock Ellis Biography

Henry Havelock Ellis, better known as Havelock Ellis was a British physician and psychologist who co-authored the first known textbook on homosexuality in English. He essentially worked on the field of human sexuality and developed the concepts of narcissism and autoeroticism which were valuable contributions to the field of psychoanalysis. His studies covered what is today known as transgender phenomena. As a young man he was very confused about his career choice and had worked on a ship and as a school teacher. Finally he decided to become a physician and take up the study of sex. He never had a regular medical practice and devoted his life to research and writing. Along with John Addington Symonds he co-authored the first textbook on homosexuality. At that time homosexuality was regarded as a disease or a crime that only sick and depraved minds indulged in. Ellis was one of the first sexual researchers who studied the concept from an objective point of view and not as a taboo. He was a social reformer and a member of the socialist debating group, The Fabian society, a splinter group of Fellowship of the New Life which advocated simple living and vegetarianism. He was acquainted with other socialists like George Bernard Shaw and Edward Carpenter.