Henry James Sumner Maine

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British jurist and historian (1822-1888)

WritersLived 1822 to 1888 · aged 65

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Fame51.8

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Languages17

Peak1880s

In century#4,052

Sir Henry James Sumner Maine,, was a British Whig comparative jurist and historian.

Also inDeutsch

Photos 3

Maine, sitting second from right, with John Lawrence, Viceroy of India and other council members and secretaries in Simla, India, by Bourne & Shepherd, circa 1864.

Sir Henry James Sumner Maine, by Lowes Cato Dickinson, 1888.

Awards 4

1871Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India

Fellow of the Royal Society

Swiney Prize

Chancellor's Gold Medal

Connected to Henry 6

Ronald DworkinAlso won Swiney Prize

William WhewellAlso won Chancellor's Gold Medal

Joseph Dalton HookerAlso won Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India

Digvijaysinhji RanjitsinhjiAlso won Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India

Frederic William MaitlandAlso won Swiney Prize

Frederic FarrarAlso won Chancellor's Gold Medal

About this person

Sir Henry James Sumner Maine,, was a British Whig comparative jurist and historian. He is famous for the thesis outlined in his book Ancient Law that law and society developed "from status to contract." According to the thesis, in the ancient world individuals were tightly bound by status dealing with(in) a particular group while in the modern one, in which individuals are viewed as autonomous agents, they are free to make contracts and form associations with whomever they choose. Because of this thesis, Maine can be seen as one of the forefathers of modern legal anthropology, legal history and sociology of law.