Laurent Clerc's Birthday

Born in La Balme-les-Grottes, France on December 26, 1785, Clerc was one of the deaf teachers from the school for the deaf in Paris who met Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet in London during Gallaudet's quest to learn about methods of educating deaf students. Clerc accompanied Gallaudet back to Connecticut in 1816 and they co-founded the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut in 1817. Clerc continued to be an influential force in deaf culture, education, and American Sign Language and a champion for the rights of deaf people throughout his life. Clerc died in Connecticut on July 18, 1869.

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