Caleb Bingham

Background

Caleb Bingham was born on April 15, 1757, in Salisbury, Connecticut, United States, of Daniel Bingham and his wife, Hannah Conant.

Education

After attending district school Caleb was prepared for college by the local minister and entered Dartmouth in 1779. At graduation in 1782 he had the honor of the valedictory address in Latin.

Career

In 1782 Bingham became master of Moor's Indian Charity School which President Wheelock of Dartmouth had founded in 1754 and maintained as an appendage to the college. After several years he moved to Boston, where he was, according to the city records of 1784, "approbated by the selectmen to keep a private school for the instruction of young ladies in the useful branches of reading, writing, etc. " He published his first textbook primarily for use in this school, under the title, The Young Lady's Accidence or a Short and Easy Introduction to English grammar: Designed Principally for the Use of Young Learners, more especially of the Fair Sex, though Proper for Either (1785). This was the second English Grammar published in the United States, that of Noah Webster having preceded it by one year. It was but a little book of sixty pages characterized by simplicity and clearness, and was long and widely used in the schools.

In 1789 a reorganization of Boston's public schools was made, and Bingham had an important part in effecting the innovations then started. Appointed to be master of one of the three new Reading Schools, he gave up his private school and served the city for seven years. Then he set up as a bookseller and occasional publisher at 44 Cornhill, remaining there for twenty-one years. His bookstore was the favorite resort of all the Boston teachers, and education was continually discussed there. It was here that agitation for free primary schools centered, Bingham being prominent in advocating them, though they were not fully established till after his death. His store was also the headquarters of the local Jeffersonian Republicanism of which he was a disciple. Several times Bingham ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate. During the governorship of Elbridge Gerry he was appointed director of the state prison and served for several years.

In 1794 Bingham first published a Selection of Lessons for Reading and Speaking entitled The American Preceptor. Three years later he brought out The Columbian Orator designed for a Second Part of the American Preceptor. Few, if any, of the selections which these books comprise are from his pen; many of them are of a deeply religious sort, reflecting truly the spirit of their times, for until the appearance of these readers and those of Webster, the Bible and the psalm-book had been the principal school reading-books. Others of the selections are strongly patriotic, and were both expressions and developers of the growing enthusiasm for the young American republic. For a quarter of a century, especially in the district schools, these readers surpassed in popularity all their competitors and made their author nationally known.

Other textbooks of his were: The Child's Companion, being an Easy and Concise Reading and Spelling Book, for the Use of Young Children (1792); Juvenile Letters, being a Correspondence between Children, from Eight to Fifteen Years of Age, a joint production of Bingham and one of his daughters, and designed to introduce children to English composition. His Astronomical and Geographical Catechism (1803) was based on the School Geography of Jedidiah Morse and comprised a set of questions and answers, both of which, according to the practise of those days, were to be committed to memory and recited verbatim. In 1796 he published for teachers of writing the first set of copy-slips printed in this country. He was a good French scholar and published his own translation of Chateaubriand's Atala (1802).

Achievements

• Caleb Bingham has been listed as a notable author by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The young lady's accidence: or, A short and easy introduction to English grammar. Designed, principally, for the use of young learners, more especially those of the fair sex, though proper for either.

    ( The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration...)

  • An astronomical and geographical catechism : for the use of children

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • The Columbian Orator

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • The American Preceptor

    (This is a reproduction of a classic text optimised for ki...)

  • The Child's Companion

    ( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

Religion

In religion Bingham was a conservative Congregationalist, adhering to the older form of this faith when the churches of Boston became Unitarian.

Personality

Of attractive appearance, nearly six feet in height and well proportioned, Bingham impressed his contemporaries with his dignity, geniality, and integrity.

Interests

• Bingham was fond of music and a member of the choir of the churches with which he was connected.

Connections

Bingham was married to Hannah (Kemble) Bingham; they had two daughters.

Father:

Daniel Bingham

Mother:

Hannah (Conant) Bingham

Spouse:

Hannah (Kemble) Bingham