Born: April 4, 1802, Hampden, District of Maine, Massachusetts [now in Maine], U.S.
Died: July 17, 1887, Trenton, New Jersey
Dorothea Lynde Dix was an American philanthropist andreformer, born in Hampden, Maine. About 1820 she established a school for girls in Boston and served as its head during the ensuing 15 years. She became interested in conditions in almshouses and prisons in 1841 after visiting such institutions in Massachusetts. Subsequently, she set about securing legislation for their improvement. Through her activities, institutions for the insane and destitute were founded in 20 states and in Canada. Her efforts also resulted in drastic reforms in prison and almshouse conditions in European countries. During the American Civil War she served with the Union army as superintendent of women nurses. Her writings include The Garland of Flora (1829) and Prisons and Prison Discipline (1845).
