• Name: Bentham, Jeremy
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date: 4  February  1748
• Death Date: 6  June  1832
• Occupation: philosopher
• Occupation: jurist
• Occupation: reformer

Jeremy Bentham developed principles of Utilitarianism that were based on David Hume’s foundations of morals. His theories influenced Godwin.

The first mention of the name Bentham appears in 1814 as a call (excepting a mention in the 1796 lists), and although there is no ‘nah’ indicated, it could have been an unsuccessful attempt to see Jeremy Bentham. According to an excerpt from an August 1817 letter written by Godwin to Place, upon his discovery that Place was out of town and staying with Bentham, 'I hope that the pleasures of the country, and the delight of Mr Bentham's conversation (which, I assure you, I envy you, and have been twenty years trying to obtain) will not make you forget the good inclination I have often seen in you, to render yourself useful to another.' (f. 61, Godwin-Place Correspondence, British Library).

The subsequent two references to Bentham in 1820 include the somewhat vague ‘Booth dines (and w. Bentham)’ and a ‘send to’ which is probably referring to a copy of Godwin’s attack on Malthus. The 1824 entry, however, is an adv. meeting post-theatre with a Bentham, and a similar entry appears in 1825 when Godwin notes ‘Belzoni’s Tomb (adv. Bentham ), and Martin’s Creation’. Marshall claims that their first meeting actually didn’t take place until June of 1831, at James Northcote’s but Godwin’s indication of ‘meet Bentham’ (in brackets) does not necessarily mean that this was the first time.

Godwin records his death.

• Godwin-Place Correspondence, British Library Place Papers, Add. 35145
• DNB
• St Clair
• Marshall, p. 374

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.