Thomas Gallaudet was born in 1787 in Hartford, Connecticut. He had come from a long family line of priests and was encouraged to become one himself. But Gallaudet had a different plan in mind. He graduated from Yale University and then moved on to become a salesman and then a lawyer. A little different then his family expected of him. Throughout his long and prosperous life he accomplished many things. He founded the West Hartford School for the Deaf, which was the principle institution for deaf education in America at the time. He also wrote various children's books and was responsible for the education of hundreds of deaf students throughout the world. Now let's take a deeper look at the life of one of today's most honorable men; Gallaudet.
~1814 Hartford, Connecticut~.
Gallaudet returns home from college, still with no interest in the deaf or their education. He soon meets a nine-year-old girl in the town who is deaf. As he attempts communication he begins to understand her yearn to learn, and her immense grief. Suddenly Gallaudet becomes overwhelmed with the desire to help this young girl as well as many others like her.
At the time there where no deaf schools that taught in America. There were limited schools in France and England and soon Gallaudet was on his way to Europe. He wanted to learn more about this "sign Language" and how to start a school right in his hometown of Hartford.
~1815 London, England~.
When he arrived he was extremely disappointed. The school for the deaf children was owned and run by one family by the name of Braidwood. They informed Gallaudet that the way they taught the children was a secret. If Gallaudet agreed to work for them for at least three years, then they might share their secret with him, and once they told him he had to promise to tell no one, even back in America! Gallaudet decided that this was not worth it, and he told them "no". Soon after, he learned of some French teachers of deaf students were visiting London, to teach the English of their methods.
