Isabel Paterson

Isabel Paterson was a Canadian-American philosopher and writer who was a leading figure in the libertarian movement. She was born in 1893 in Toronto, Canada, and grew up in a family of modest means. Paterson was largely self-educated and developed a passion for philosophy and politics at an early age. She was a prolific writer and published several books on libertarian thought, including The God of the Machine. Paterson was a close friend and mentor to Ayn Rand, who credited her with helping to shape her own philosophical views. Paterson was based in New York City and was active in libertarian politics until her death in 1974.