Hodgson, Edwin Allan

Born at Manchester, England; family relocated to Canada; deafened by meningitis in 1872 at age 18. Went into printing, and after a few years, was recruited by the New York school for the deaf to teach printing there. Honorary M.A. from Gallaudet College in 1883. Editor of the Deaf-Mute's Journal; was active and an officer in many deaf organizations. Credited with being the moving force behind the 1880 national convention of deaf people that led to the founding of the National Association of the Deaf. Awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government in 1913 for his work for the deaf. Married twice, first time to deaf woman Mary Whitehead, who died only one year later, and then to Lillian Jones, who also predeceased him in 1916. Hodgson died from a cerebral hemorrage.