Born May 4, 1796
Franklin, Massachusetts
Died August 2, 1859
Yellow Springs, Ohio

Educator, abolitionist, legislator, and social reformer

Horace Mann was born at a time when the public school system was in its infancy. Children like himself spent most of their time working instead of going to school. Youngsters who received an education were primarily those whose parents could afford to hire private tutors.

Mann believed that society had a duty to see that all children received a free, high-quality education. He made it his life’s work to create a successful system of public schools in Massachusetts. He also established a network of “normal schools” for training teachers and helped develop standards for textbooks. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1858 to 1862, Mann fought for the abolition (outlawing) of slavery. In his final years he served as the first president of...