John of Beverley, St.

Hearing. Possibly the earliest recorded teacher of the deaf. Also known as Bishop John of Hexham. Was Bishop of Hagulstad; reportedly taught "the dumb boy of Hexham" (q.v.) to speak the letters of the alphabet and a few words, as recorded by the Venerable Bede. He is the patron saint of teachers of the deaf, but sometimes erroneously said to be the patron saint of deaf people, which is actually St. Francis de Sales (q.v.).