How to Live Like a Modern-Day Gentleman-Scientist
Without the Fortune
Here’s a little secret about me: if I could time-travel back to the 19th century, there’s something I’d really love to be.
A gentleman-scientist.
I’ve always been fascinated by the English Victorian age—a time of grand adventures, scientific breakthroughs, and limitless curiosity. It was a world where explorers mapped unknown territories, and thinkers pushed the boundaries of what we knew about the world.
It was a time of scientific exploration. The term ‘scientist’ was coined for the first time in 1833. Which brings me to the fascinating concept of the gentleman-scientist. Independent (mostly wealthy) people pursuing their interest, following their curiosity. Because these were the early days of science, there weren’t any strict divisions between different fields. These guys researched biology, astronomy, physics, engineering, whatever caught their interest. Mostly at the same time.
The idea of a gentleman-scientist excites me. Can you imagine? Being free to explore whatever sparks your curiosity? No limits, no restrictions. I wouldn’t hesitate to step into that today! The only difference between them and me? They had a fortune to support their curiosity. Me? I still have to pay rent. Minor detail.
Let’s take a closer look. In the 19th century, a gentleman-scientist would need a vast amount of money to be able to do what they wanted. Since they lived in England, the very fancy ones needed to have an income of around 3.000 pounds to be able to do what they want. In today’s money, this would be somewhere around 300.000 pounds. Each year.
Wow. That’s a lot of money. I don’t have an income like that. So, does that mean I can’t live like a gentleman scientist? Let’s dig into that. First off, I don’t need anything fancy. I don’t need a mansion. Or a butler. No, for me it’s more the independence to follow my curiosity that I really want.
In today’s world, this is way easier (and cheaper!). I don’t have to buy really expensive books or equipment when I want to know more about a certain subject. I can go online, and have more info then they ever had. Often for free! So to be able to live like a gentleman scientist today, I don't need much. Actually, it is quite doable.
In fact, I have been living like that for the last 18 months. The trick is to not need much. I don’t care for a big house. A fancy car. Expensive clothes. When I was working a 9-5, I made good money, which I didn’t need. So I was able to save. Then I quit my job, and discovered I could do with even less. Before that, I always thought I needed more money. And that’s not true, I needed more time.
Now that I have that time, I’m free to dive into the things that fascinate me. I experiment, I explore, I follow my curiosity wherever it leads. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. This is the life I always wanted, and it’s right here, within reach.
Focussing on what you really think is important, strips away all the bullshit. There are more possibilities than you might imagine. You too could live the life that you want, it’s probably more in reach than you think.
My name is Wouter, and I’m living my version of the 21st century gentleman-scientist dream. What’s your dream life? And what’s stopping you from living it right now?