North, Samuel White

Born at Coningsby and deafened by the noise from a shotgun blast at 6 months of age. Entered the Yorkshire Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at age 9, leaving in 1847. Spent a few years at home, then apprenticed as a wood engraver and worked in that field for at least 20 years. In 1858, appointed assistant missioner to the deaf of London and full missioner two years later. Married a hearing woman in 1861, but she died in 1866. Despite studying and passing all the necessary written examinations, the Anglican Church refused to ordain him as a priest because of his deafness. He made a successful missionary trip to the deaf of Belgium, then returned to London. Married again to a deaf woman, Jane Ann Hunt, who was a prolific painter; many of her works were exhibited under the name of Jane A. North, and he engraved several of her sketches and drawings. He was one of the earliest members of the new British Deaf and Dumb Association in 1890. Died from illness in the winter of 1892. Although he himself did not achieve the priesthood, his efforts paved the way for the ordinations of Edward Rowland (1882, q.v.) and Richard Aslatt Pearce (1885, q.v.).