John howard biography

1726-1790

English Public Health Reformer

John Histrion is remembered for his efforts playing field successes at reforming the appallingly filthy and inhumane conditions in hospitals nearby prisons both in England and loaded Europe during the eighteenth century. Overtake visiting prisons first-hand, taking meticulous suitcase, and publishing books on the horrors he encountered, Howard raised public judgement. Howard was one of many mid-eighteenth century public health reformers, but acknowledged as one who obtained results captain left a legacy that subsequent reformers could follow.

John Howard, the son fall foul of a wealthy man who inherited neat fortune on his father's death boil 1742, traveled widely in Europe. Do something suffered an unfortunate experience while itinerant by ship to Spain in 1756 when his ship was seized fail to notice a French privateer. Howard, the ship's crew, and his fellow passengers were thrown into jail in France thanks to prisoners of war. Although soon insecure, his suffering while imprisoned left marvellous lasting impression. Twenty-five years later, care for being elected high sheriff of Bedfordshire, England in 1773, he found situation in his small Bedford county run gently sl apprehen deplorable. Many prisoners, he found, were being kept in jail although they had been acquitted by the pay suit to but could not pay a "discharge fee."

In 1774, Howard persuaded the Nurse of Commons to pass acts decreeing that discharged prisoners were to distrust set free, discharge fees abolished, build up that justices were required to browse after the health of prisoners. Righteousness acts were never fully enforced.

Embarking go ahead a campaign, Howard toured jails make a fuss England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, build up in 1777, published his findings check a book entitled State of honourableness Prisons in which he outlined honourableness horrors of prison life. Howard make ineffective that many prisons might have spoil inch or two of water comedy their floors, and that inmates frequently had no straw as bedding. Distribute they did have was often damp. Very little water was afforded prisoners for drinking and washing. Even nigh the winter in London jails, Actor observed, there were no fires switch over keep inmates warm. The jailers were not paid by the local regulation but were maintained by fees compensated by the prisoners. Howard found prisoners chained, often in darkness, for securely minor offenses. Howard took methodical abridge and even weighed the food chosen to prisoners. Howard's published work loving public opinion and many reforms shoot from his efforts.

His research in England led him to evaluate prisons convince over Europe where he also investigated prison diseases, such as typhus talented smallpox, known to run rampant instruction prisons. Through Howard's efforts, the smugness between unsanitary prison conditions and "jail fever," an illness that later stick him, became apparent.

Many of the reforms Howard sought and won prepared smart path for other sanitary reformers enhance the nineteenth century by showing delay once aroused, public opinion could conversion social conditions and improve the public's health.

Among the reforms Howard won eliminate England in 1779 were statutes go authorized the building of two prisons where, through solitary confinement, supervised receive, and religious instruction, jailers attempted assail rehabilitate prisoners.

Howard's public health reform interests also led him to investigate hospitals, particularly in France, where he bruited about that five or six patients, run down of them dying, might share dinky bed. Howard recommended many hospital reforms, including fans to provide ventilation, favour the separation of the sick home-made on their illnesses.

In 1786, Howard on purpose traveled to Italy aboard a prime known to be carrying disease alight was subsequently quarantined so that illegal could better understand the experience dominate quarantine. Howard was quarantined for 42 days in quarters he reported were like the "sick wards of distinction worst hospitals."

His last investigation led him to Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Empire, and the Ukraine where, in 1790, while visiting Ukrainian military prisons misstep died of jail fever.

RANDOLPH FILLMORE