220px thomas hopkins gallaudet posthumous oil painting by george f wright 1851

Thomas Gallaudet

By Ex Dee

  • Born

    Born
    On December 10th 1787 Thomas Gallaudet was born.

  • Yale

    Yale
    Thomas Gallaudet goes to Yale college, and earns his Bachelor's degree while at the top of his class

  • Masters

    Masters
    He then proceeds to earn his Master's degree in 1810.

  • Preacher

    Preacher
    His meaningful Congregationalist faith guided him throughout his life as he became a preacher.

  • Alice Cogswell

    Alice Cogswell
    At this time Thomas Gallaudet met Alice Cogswell, who changed his life by introducing him in a way, to the deaf.

  • Europe

    Europe
    In 1815, he set sail to Europe in search of ways to teach the deaf.

  • Laurent Clerc

    Laurent Clerc
    While in a school for the deaf in France he met Laurent Clerc, whom he persuaded to accompany him back to America. On their way they shared different aspects of their prime languages to each other.

  • School for the Deaf

    School for the Deaf
    When Thomas and Laurent arrived in America they established the American School for the Deaf. This was the first institution for deaf education in the United States.

  • Retired

    Retired
    In 1830, Gallaudet had to retire from his teaching at American School for the Deaf due to health issues.

  • Death

    Death
    Partially due to the health problems that forced him to retire, Thomas Gallaudet died in his home at the age of 63 on September 10th, 1851. The Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford was where he was buried.