ABSTRACT
Born in 1809 in the frontier environment of Batavia, New York, young Albert Brisbane was more interested in outdoor life than in his school work. Albert Brisbane was completely the social dreamer. He belonged to the group of humanitarians who refused to accept the ruthless and anarchic industrialism of the period. Brisbane’s reputation rests squarely on the importance of Association in the history of American culture. Like so many other Americans of his generation, young Brisbane grew into manhood with a messianic compulsion. Brisbane’s eloquence and enthusiasm made the plan of Association plausible and persuasive to those of his readers in the early 1840’s who were themselves in quest of a panacea. In his enthusiasm Brisbane went so far as to assert that “if Association raised every product to its highest degree of perfection, man should attain at least to a treble increase in strength, longevity and intelligence.”.
