ID
0535
Nationality
American
Occupation
Painter
Artist
Poet
Summary
Deafened in infancy and wandered around Philadelphia as a "street child" until taken in by David Seixas and attended Seixas' Mt. Airy school for the deaf. Left school at age 12 in 1825 to become a house painter. In the 1830s, began studying art in New York and Europe. An early advocate for a national college for the deaf, he was awarded an honorary M.A. degree at the formal opening of the National Deaf-Mute College (now Gallaudet University). Made home and career in New York City, where he died.
References
Deaf Persons in the Arts and Sciences, p.67-70; Great Deaf Americans, The Second Edition, p.58-63; Deaf Artists in America, p.37-42; Gallaudet Encyclopedia, vol.1, p.178-179; Notable Deaf Persons, p.6-7; ABC-Clio companion, p.59-60; Deaf Heritage, p.15, 106-107; Gallaudet Almanac, p.229-231; Interesting Deaf Americans, p.126-128.
Dates
15 June 1813-23 April 1891