Frederick William Gunn was a schoolmaster who started the family school, later called “The Gunnery, ” which became widely known and in which many boys who afterwards attained prominence were educated.
Background
Frederick William Gunn, son of John N. and Mary (Ford) Gunn, was born on his father’s farm in that part of Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States on October 4, 1816, known as Judea, the youngest of eight children.
Both his father and mother died when he was ten years old, and thereafter he was brought up under the direction of his oldest brother, John. Frederick William Gunn was a bright, inquisitive boy, eager to get at the root of things and fond of outdoor life.
Education
Having studied previously at a school in Cornwall, Connecticut, United States conducted by Rev. William Andrews, Frederick William Gunn prepared for college at the local academy, Judea, under Rev. Watson W. Andrews, the former’s son.
At the age of seventeen he entered Yale, graduating in 1837.
In college he was known as a sturdy, generous youth of pronounced individualism, true to the dictates of his own mind and heart.
He did sufficiently well in his studies, but had no ambition to take high rank as a scholar. He read widely in English literature, sought an all-round development, was noted for physical strength and skill, and was fond of fishing and hunting, killing game with a bow and arrow, in the use of which he was an expert.
After graduating he returned to Washington. In order to earn money he taught school in New Preston, Connecticut.
His mother had dedicated him as a child to the ministry, but he had read Carlyle, Emerson, and Theodore Parker, and could not conform to the Calvinistic theology of his place and time.
He finally decided to study medicine.
Career
In 1839 he reopened the academy at Washington.
His teaching ability attracted many pupils. The idea of becoming a physician he was forced to abandon, because although he fought to overcome the weakness he could not witness severe pain without fainting. Teaching became his life work.
He advocated total abstinence where rum making and selling were considered respectable. The anti-slavery movement was under way, and the general sentiment of the town was opposed to it. Again he took an independent stand, and became prominent in a little group of ardent abolitionists.
As a result, he was persecuted as an infidel and fanatic, and his pupils were taken from him. Called back to more tolerant New Preston in 1843, he taught there until 1847, when he went to Towanda, Pennsylvania, and opened an academy. In 1849, after marriage he returned to Washington and resumed teaching in the academy.
In October 1850 Frederick William Gunn started the family school, later called “The Gunnery. ”
He was not a conventional schoolmaster nor did the government of the school conform to prevailing practices. From both Mr. and Mrs. Gunn the boys received home-like care and affection. A large degree of freedom was permitted and self-government was encouraged. The discipline was unique, penalties being fitted to offenses in ingenious ways. Training of the intellect was secondary, and moral and physical development, primary. A knowledge of public events and the duties of citizenship were made almost compulsory. When the master died and was buried in the town of his birth, and former pupils erected a monument to his memory.
Achievements
Frederick William Gunn started the family school, later called “The Gunnery, ” which became widely known. He was conducting the school for more than thirty years and did the government of the school conform to prevailing practices.
Views
Quotations:
“I am a non-conformist in many things—in some I stand all alone. ”
Connections
On April 16, 1848, Frederick William Gunn married Abigail I. Brinsmade, daughter of General Daniel B. Brinsmade of Washington.
