Samuel Gridley Howe was an American physician and educator, born on November 10, 1801. He is best known for his work with individuals who had disabilities, particularly the blind. Howe founded the first school for the blind in the United States, the Perkins School for the Blind, in 1832, where he developed innovative teaching methods. In addition to his contributions to education, Howe was an advocate for social reform. He supported the abolition of slavery and worked for the rights of immigrants. His efforts in these areas made him a prominent figure in 19th-century American reform movements.