The Perkins Institution in Boston stands as the primary legacy of Samuel Gridley Howe, who served as its first director starting in 1832. Beyond his contributions to specialized education, the Boston-born physician maintained a dual career involving international humanitarian aid, military service in the Greek War of Independence, and significant involvement in American abolitionist politics.
Early Education and Background
Born on November 10, 1801, on Pearl Street in Boston, Howe was the son of Joseph Neals Howe and Patty Gridley. His father, a rope manufacturer whose business suffered during the War of 1812, enrolled him at Brown University in 1818. After graduating in 1821, Howe continued his professional training at Harvard Medical School, completing his medical degree in 1824.
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Shortly after obtaining his medical certification, Howe travelled to Greece to join the ongoing revolution. Between 1824 and 1827, he served as a surgeon in the Greek army, earning the moniker 'the Lafayette of the Greek Revolution' for his command abilities and humanitarian efforts. Following his military tenure, he returned to the United States to raise $60,000 for refugee relief and documented the conflict in his 1828 publication, Historical Sketch of the Greek Revolution.
Work for the Blind
In 1831, Howe accepted a proposal from Dr. John Dix Fisher to establish a school for the blind in Boston. His research into European models took him to Paris and eventually Berlin, where he was briefly imprisoned while distributing funds to Polish revolutionaries. Upon his return to Boston in 1832, he established the New England Asylum for the Blind, later renamed the Perkins Institution. With state funding and support from figures like Colonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins, he directed the institution's growth and provided education for marginalized youth.
Abolitionist and Reform Efforts
Howe was deeply involved in the American abolitionist movement. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, he was appointed by the Secretary of War to the American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission. His mandate involved investigating the welfare of freedmen in the American South and Canada West, ensuring he documented the practical conditions of those transitioning to freedom.
Fast facts
- Born: 10 November 1801, Boston
- Died: 9 January 1876, Boston
- Education: Brown University (1821), Harvard Medical School (1824)
- Notable Role: First director of the Perkins Institution
- Military Service: Surgeon in the Greek War of Independence
- Burial Site: Mount Auburn Cemetery
- Abolitionist Work: Member of the American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission
Questions readers ask
What was the Perkins Institution?
It was a pioneering school for the blind in Boston that Howe established and served as the first director.
Why was Howe called the Lafayette of the Greek Revolution?
He earned the title due to his bravery, command abilities, and humanitarian work while serving as a surgeon during the Greek War of Independence.
