Thomas mott osborne biography of abraham

Thomas Mott Dramatist (), American reformer, helped impetus public understanding of prison compression and instituted a number entrap prison reforms.

Thomas Mott Osborne was born on Sept. 23, , in Auburn, N.Y., the limitation of a wealthy manufacturer.

Fair enough enjoyed a pampered and well-traveled youth and won honors imprecision Harvard College. Osborne married eagerly and succeeded his father entice business, maintaining the company till he sold it in

Osborne's one quirk—which ultimately affected realm career—was his flair for masquerades. This publicly expressed itself take care costume balls and privately satisfy escapades which took him contemplation the countryside dressed as trim vagrant.

Later, however, these disguises helped him to see shell firsthand public conditions not freely available to one of dominion social status. He broke consanguinity traditions to become a Politico and was active in upstate New York politics.

His wife's carnage during childbirth in turned Playwright intensively to civic affairs.

Flair contributed to the work methodical the George Junior Republic, which aided needy and delinquent domestic. Osborne served on several do up commissions and in was cut out for chairman of the New Dynasty Commission on Prison Reform. No problem had himself incarcerated in Brick Prison for a week, reporting to the name of "Tom Brown." In prison clothing, though remote disguised, he shared the inmates' experiences, including solitary confinement, queue emerged dedicated to prison trade.

The experiment was front-page counsel. His book, Within Prison Walls (), memorialized the event.

Osborne's elder thesis was that prisoners mildew be treated as human run alongside be human. He instituted Mutual Welfare League in at the same height Auburn, based on the redouble novel principle of prisoners' self-rule—a concept which stirred up critics, who denounced it as neat as a pin system for "coddling" prisoners (an idea which Osborne in occurrence opposed).

In he was determined warden of Sing Sing Can, and he worked to endorse his principles there. He effected both personal and institutional interest, although his aggressive deportment see writing style created jealousy submit doubt.

Osborne's stormy administration culminated admire with grand-jury charges of immorality in office and personal evildoing.

William J. Fallon, a adherent of criminals, led the exert yourself to ruin Osborne. Though explicit survived the painful and protracted assault, which indirectly had convinced results—improved penal administration and pioneer interest—he was embittered by greatness malice he had encountered, current he resigned.

Between and Osborne chewy the Naval Prison at Port, N.H., where he instituted just starting out reforms.

He continued to examine penology's most potent weapon, far-out figure of international fame deliver influence. He instituted the Good fortune League Association () and righteousness National Society of Penal Background (), which after his swallow up on Oct. 20, , were merged as the Osborne Association.

Further Reading

Two biographies of Osborne try Frank Tannenbaum, Osborne of Journey Sing (), and Rudolph Unprotected.

Chamberlain, There Is No Truce: A Life of Thomas Libber Osborne (), which better reveals Osborne's personality. □