Friedrich Engels (28 November 1820 – 5 August 1895), was a German philosopher, historian, political scientist and revolutionary socialist. Together with his friend and long time collaborator Marx, they developed the materialist scientific explanation of history and economics, what later became known as Marxism.
Personal life
Engels was born in the city of Barmen in Rhenish Prussia, which at the time was a rapidly industrializing city. He was the son of a rich and very conservative industrial capitalist, Friedrich Engels Sr.
At the age of 20, Engels had many talents and developed many abilities; he practiced sports, studied music and foreign languages, including English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.