Main content
- Extent:
- 1 linear ft. (1 linear ft.)
- Abstract:
- Elihu Burritt was born on December 10, 1810, in New Britain, Connecticut, into a working class family. He attended school briefly, but was largely self-educated. Burritt became a blacksmith to support himself, but he continued to study languages at night. Word of his erudition spread; he became known as the "Learned Blacksmith", and was offered opportunities to speak in public. While writing a lecture on "The Anatomy of the Earth", he was so impressed by the interdependency of its parts that he ended with a plea for international peace. This became his lifelong passion. He became acquainted with other social reformers and began his career as a prophet for peace.
Held at: Swarthmore College Peace Collection [Contact Us]