Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish essayist, historian, and philosopher who lived from 4 December 1795 to 5 February 1881. Carlyle learned to read from his mother, and arithmetic from his father. Carlyle travelled 100 miles from his home in November 1809, when he was about 14 years old, to attend the University of Edinburgh. John Leslie taught him mathematics, and John Playfair taught him science. He finished his studies in the arts in 1813 and enrolled in a theology study. In addition to founding the London Library, he made a substantial contribution to the National Portrait Galleries' establishment. Victorian literature was significantly affected by Carlyle's inventive writing style. He proposed the Great Man theory, a historical theory that holds that notable people have affected history. His "noble Chivalry of Work" political theory is characterised by medievalism. Carlyle heard abruptly of his wife's unexpected death while still in Scotland. He wrote memoirs of William Wordsworth, Robert Southey, Irving, and [...] niece Mary, who served as his amanuensis, overheard him say his last words: "So this is Death-well."