Combe, George (1788-1858)
Title
Combe, George (1788-1858)
Description
A phrenologist with interests in penal reform and education, George Combe met George Eliot in Charles Bray's home in 1851, during which he examined her head, proclaiming her to be extraordinary. He noted that she had looked 40 when in fact she was 32 and remarked on her delicate health, but felt that she had 'great analytic power and an instinctive soundness of judgment,' and that she appeared to be the ablest woman he had ever seen. His assessment revealed that she had a very large brain, noting the anterior lobe's large dimensions. Upon learning of Eliot's relationship with a married George Henry Lewes, Combe was horrified that his readings of her skull could have been so wrong. In strained letters to Bray, Combe suspected insanity in Eliot's family, which could only explain such a behavior.
Publisher
George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org
Letters Exchanged
To:
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 10 October 1851
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 26 November 1851
GE to George Combe, London, 27 January 1852
GE to George Combe, London, [24 February 1852]
GE to George Combe, London, 30 March 1852
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 5 April 1852
GE to George Combe, Coventry, 8 April 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 22 April 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 7 June 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 11 June 1852
GE to George Combe, [London], 22 June 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 29 June 1852
GE to George Combe, [London], 30 June 1852
Susanna [Mrs. John] Chapman to George Combe, London, 14 July 1852
GE to George Combe, Broadstairs, 16 July [1852]
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 19 July 1852
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 20 July 1852
GE to George Combe, Broadstairs, 21 July 1852
GE to George Combe, Broadstairs, 25 July [1852]
GE to George Combe, Coventry, 29 October 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 13 November 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 14 December 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 21 December 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 22 January 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 18 February 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 16 April 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 7 June 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 9 July 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 23 September 1853
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 3 October 1853
GE to George Combe, Coventry, 9 October 1853
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 6 October 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 21 October 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 20 November 1853
GE to George Combe, London, [25 November 1853]
GE to George Combe, London, 28 November 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 12 December 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 16 December 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 2 January 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 23 December 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 25 January 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 7 February 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 22 February 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 13 February 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 25 February 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 26 February 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 28 February 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 1 March 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 3 March 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 3 March 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 9 March 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 12 March 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 8 April 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 13 April 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 9 June 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 18 September 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 4 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Niton, 8 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 18 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 24 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 28 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 19 November 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 7 April 1855
GHL to George Combe, Richmond, 17 September [1856]
From:
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 28 November 1851
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 7 December 1851
George Combe to Charles Bray, Charlton, 24 July 1852
George Combe to GE, Edinburgh, 17 November 1853
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 2 March 1854
George Combe to GE, Edinburgh, 3 March 1854
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 5 March 1854
George Combe to Charles Bray, Edinburgh, 15 November 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 10 October 1851
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 26 November 1851
GE to George Combe, London, 27 January 1852
GE to George Combe, London, [24 February 1852]
GE to George Combe, London, 30 March 1852
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 5 April 1852
GE to George Combe, Coventry, 8 April 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 22 April 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 7 June 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 11 June 1852
GE to George Combe, [London], 22 June 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 29 June 1852
GE to George Combe, [London], 30 June 1852
Susanna [Mrs. John] Chapman to George Combe, London, 14 July 1852
GE to George Combe, Broadstairs, 16 July [1852]
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 19 July 1852
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 20 July 1852
GE to George Combe, Broadstairs, 21 July 1852
GE to George Combe, Broadstairs, 25 July [1852]
GE to George Combe, Coventry, 29 October 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 13 November 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 14 December 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 21 December 1852
GE to George Combe, London, 22 January 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 18 February 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 16 April 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 7 June 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 9 July 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 23 September 1853
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 3 October 1853
GE to George Combe, Coventry, 9 October 1853
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 6 October 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 21 October 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 20 November 1853
GE to George Combe, London, [25 November 1853]
GE to George Combe, London, 28 November 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 12 December 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 16 December 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 2 January 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 23 December 1853
GE to George Combe, London, 25 January 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 7 February 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 22 February 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 13 February 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 25 February 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 26 February 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 28 February 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 1 March 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 3 March 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 3 March 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 9 March 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 12 March 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 8 April 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 13 April 1854
GE to George Combe, London, 9 June 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 18 September 1854
John Chapman to George Combe, London, 4 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Niton, 8 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 18 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 24 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 28 October 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 19 November 1854
Charles Bray to George Combe, Coventry, 7 April 1855
GHL to George Combe, Richmond, 17 September [1856]
From:
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 28 November 1851
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 7 December 1851
George Combe to Charles Bray, Charlton, 24 July 1852
George Combe to GE, Edinburgh, 17 November 1853
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 2 March 1854
George Combe to GE, Edinburgh, 3 March 1854
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 5 March 1854
George Combe to Charles Bray, Edinburgh, 15 November 1854
Image
For more information
Citation
George Combe (1788-1858), Combe, George (1788-1858), Social Network Gallery, George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed November 11, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/97154