Karl Marx

Karl Heinrich Marx born May 5, 1818 is best known as an economist, revolutionary sociologist, humanist and philosopher. His economic theories are the basis for the understanding of labor and its relationship to capital outlay and income. Marx published many books during his lifetime which include The Communist Manifesto (1848) and Das Capital (1894.
He gave birth to Marxism or the philosophy that human societies must progress through a conflict between the ownership class and the labor class. Social reform must come from a class struggle. Capitalism, in Marx's theory is the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie or run by the wealthy classes for their own good. He believed capitalism would run its course and move into socialism. Marx fought to arouse revolutions by underprivileged to topple capitalism and bring about socialism or communism. Communism is a system of government where in the state plans, controls and a single authoritarian party holds all the power. Theoretically communism as produced by Marx is a higher social order where all goods are shared equally. Socialism follows Marx's theories that major industries should be owned and controlled by the government.
Marx is one of the most influential figures in history. Revolutionary socialist governments took Marx to heart which lead to the formation of the Soviet Union in 1922 and the People's Republic of China in 1949. Labor unions and workers around the globe are influenced by Marxism and its byproducts of Stalinism, Leninism, Maoism.
Marx and Jenny Von Westphalen had seven children but due Marx's political and philosophical leanings, the family was forced to live in deplorable conditions and only three survived to adulthood. Marx's died on March 14, 1883 in London due to bronchitis and pleurisy. He was a stateless person with no home or country. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery, London. There were only eleven mourners at his funeral. Fortunately for his daughters, Engels (a friend and collaborator of Marx's) left them a goodly portion of his wealthy estate.