Friedrich engels children and families

1870-1895

In 1870 Friedrich Engels moved to London, where Karl Marx lived with his family. London was the centre of colonial world trade and British finance. Engels now lived officially together with the Irish worker Lizzie Burns, whom he married on her deathbed in 1878, in the expensive district of Primrose Hill at 122 Regent's Park Road.

Engels cultivated political friendships and correspondences throughout Europe. Free from gainful employment, the secretary of the International Workers' Association, who corresponded in many languages, now had time for political activities and discussions. He met with Karl Marx almost daily. For the Marx daughters, he was the always generous “Uncle Angel” and also supported them and their partners. They were his surrogate family, with whom he enjoyed spending the summer holidays by the sea.

After Marx' death in 1883, Engels wanted to secure his scientific heritage, planned a Marx biography and a history of the International Workers' Association. He felt obliged to complete the capital, but he had learned little about the work progress during Marx’s lifetime and did not know what to expect. About 1,700 manuscript pages from the estate had to be deciphered. He was already able to publish the second volume in 1885. The edition of volume 3 only succeeded in December 1894. Especially Engels‘ Anti-Dühring helped Marx's theory to become more widespread and recognition.

In August 1869 a supraregional workers' organization was formed in Eisenach, the "Social Democratic Workers' Party" (SDAP) led by August Bebel and Wilhelm Liebknecht. Under the influence of Marx and Engels, the SDAP wanted to implement social and economic improvements with trade unions and labour disputes. It was the first party to join the International Workers´ Association (IAA), which was led decisively by Marx and Engels, also known as the "First International". Since 1890s, Engels' house on Regent's Park Road was a meeting place for international socialism, especially on Sundays, with visitors like August Bebel, Eduard Bernstein or Paul Lafargue, but only a few Englishmen. 

Friedrich Engels died on 5 August 1895 of esophageal and laryngeal cancer. On 27 September, his ashes were scattered in the sea near Eastbourne in the presence of Eleanor Marx, Edward Aveling, Eduard Bernstein and Friedrich Leßner.