John Baldwin (educator)
| John Baldwin | |
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John Baldwin
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| Born |
October 13, 1799 Branford, Connecticut |
| Died | December 28, 1884 (aged 85) Baldwin, Louisiana |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Chappel |
John Baldwin (October 13, 1799 – December 28, 1884) was an American educator, and the founder of Baldwin Institute (later Baldwin University) in Berea, Ohio, which would eventually merge into Baldwin–Wallace College, now Baldwin-Wallace University. He was also the founder of Baker University and Baldwin City, Kansas, and contributed money to start schools in Bangalore, India that are today called Baldwin Boys High School, Baldwin Girls High School and Baldwin Co-Education Extension High School.
Born in Connecticut, Baldwin originally was a teacher in Maryland and Connecticut before moving to Ohio in the late 1820s. He became part of the lyceum movement, and situated himself in Berea, Ohio. He opened up Baldwin Institute in 1846 upon seeing the dissolution of the Norwalk Seminary. Nine years later, the Institute became Baldwin University. He moved to Kansas around 1857, laying the foundation for Baldwin City, Kansas, as well as Baker University. In his later life, he purchased a Louisiana plantation, and made contributions to education in India late in his life.
John Baldwin was born in Branford, Connecticut on 13 October 1799 to Joseph Baldwin and Rosanna Malley. His mother was a well-educated woman, as well as intensely religious. She attempted to become a student at Yale University, but was not allowed because she was a woman. Due to this, John resolved to make no distinction between races or sexes should he ever found a school. His father enlisted in the Continental Army during the American Revolution as a private and left as a captain. When John turned eighteen, he joined the Methodist Church. As a student at a private school, he paid his way by chopping firewood, ringing the bell, and building fires. Afterwards, he became a teacher in Fishkill, New York, Maryland, and Litchfield, Connecticut. As a teacher in Maryland, his stance on slavery, as well as black people as a whole, was revealed. A mulatto boy was sent to his school daily as a servant for his master's son. Baldwin began to teach them in common. When the student's father found out about this, he demanded Baldwin not teach him any more, to which he replied, "I do not charge anything for teaching him" and continued to teach him.
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