Francis Skinner

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Francis Skinner (1912-1941) was a friend and lover of the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. While studying mathematics at Cambridge, Skinner fell under the Wittgenstein's influence and the two quickly became inseparable. Their relationship was characterized by Skinner's eagerness to please Wittgenstein and conform to his opinions. Wittgenstein's hostility towards academia resulted in Skinner's withdrawal from university, first to become a gardener, and later a mechanic (much to the dismay of Skinner's family). In 1934, the two made plans to emigrate to the Soviet Union and become manual laborers, but they only visited the country briefly. In the late 30s, Wittgenstein grew increasingly distant, until Skinner's death from polio in 1941.