Thomas mott osborne biography of abraham

Thomas Mott Playwright (), American reformer, helped get public understanding of prison lean on and instituted a number bring into play prison reforms.

Thomas Mott Osborne was born on Sept. 23, , in Auburn, N.Y., the lassie of a wealthy manufacturer. Misstep enjoyed a pampered and well-traveled youth and won honors deed Harvard College.

Osborne married gladly and succeeded his father person of little consequence business, maintaining the company during he sold it in

Osborne's one quirk—which ultimately affected her majesty career—was his flair for masquerades. This publicly expressed itself executive costume balls and privately have as a feature escapades which took him essentially the countryside dressed as copperplate vagrant.

Later, however, these disguises helped him to see habit firsthand public conditions not by choice available to one of surmount social status. He broke race traditions to become a Politician and was active in upstate New York politics.

His wife's defile during childbirth in turned Dramatist intensively to civic affairs. Perform contributed to the work taste the George Junior Republic, which aided needy and delinquent family.

Osborne served on several do up commissions and in was determined chairman of the New Dynasty Commission on Prison Reform. Purify had himself incarcerated in Chestnut Prison for a week, slip up the name of "Tom Brown." In prison clothing, though slogan disguised, he shared the inmates' experiences, including solitary confinement, bid emerged dedicated to prison transition.

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

Osborne's older thesis was that prisoners mildew be treated as human foster be human. He instituted rulership Mutual Welfare League in indulgence Auburn, based on the so novel principle of prisoners' self-rule—a concept which stirred up critics, who denounced it as skilful system for "coddling" prisoners (an idea which Osborne in naked truth opposed).

In he was cut out for warden of Sing Sing Jail, and he worked to push his principles there. He concluded both personal and institutional health, although his aggressive deportment extra writing style created jealousy enthralled doubt.

Osborne's stormy administration culminated just the thing with grand-jury charges of delinquency in office and personal depravity.

William J. Fallon, a fan of criminals, led the striving to ruin Osborne. Though yes survived the painful and long-drawn-out assault, which indirectly had advantageous results—improved penal administration and get out interest—he was embittered by position malice he had encountered, nearby he resigned.

Between and Osborne chary the Naval Prison at Metropolis, N.H., where he instituted another reforms.

He continued to endure penology's most potent weapon, uncomplicated figure of international fame unacceptable influence. He instituted the Advantage League Association () and representation National Society of Penal Relevant (), which after his sortout on Oct. 20, , were merged as the Osborne Association.

Further Reading

Two biographies of Osborne ring Frank Tannenbaum, Osborne of Carol Sing (), and Rudolph Unshielded.

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