Major influence on Carpenter’s thinking on everything from Democracy, politics and poetics to class, sexuality and gay liberation. Along with the Bhagavad-Gita, Whitman’s Leaves of Grass was a pivotal work in the development of Carpenter's world view and the direction his life took. Carpenter visited Whitman twice in the USA. During the first visit in 1877 they developed an affectional and sexual relationship. Carpenter worked tirelessly to promote Whitman and his books in England.
F.D. Maurice
Founder of Christian Socialism and incumbent of Saint Edwards church, Cambridge while Carpenter was a curate there in the early 1870s. An important influence on Carpenter.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/REmaurice.htm
Thoreau's book "Walden Pond" exerted a profound and disturbing influence on Carpenter.
Henry and Kate Salt
Influenced by Carpenter’s ideas, especially concerning “simplification”. Henry and his wife Kate Salt were close friends with Carpenter. Henry founded the Humanitarian League and was an early animal rights activist. He fought against “blood-sport” vivisection and advocated non-violent civil disobedience.
Arts and Crafts Movement
http://www.stickleymuseum.org/stickley.php