Statue of John Howard
John Howard (1726–1790) was a prominent English philanthropist and reformer who dedicated his life to improving conditions in prisons and hospitals. While traveling to Portugal in 1755, Howard was captured by French privateers and imprisoned for 6 days. During his imprisonment, he experienced firsthand harsh conditions that left a lasting impact, igniting his interest in the treatment of prisoners.
As a devout Christian, Howard believed it was his duty to help the less fortunate and saw the awful state of prisons and hospitals as a societal failure. His faith instilled in him a conviction for the humane treatment of all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.
In 1773, Howard was appointed High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, a position that involved inspecting local prisons. There, he encountered overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and the mistreatment of prisoners. His observations further fueled his drive for reform and solidified his lifelong dedication to improving institutions of care and confinement. Between 1775 and 1777, he conducted 350 visits to 230 different institutions throughout England and Europe, documenting the conditions in what became his influential book, The State of the Prisons in England and Wales.
Image. Letter written to a friend about Howard's book on prisons
Later in life, Howard focused on preventing the spread of contagious diseases. On a trip to see the hospitals in Eastern Europe in 1790, Howard contracted typhus and died. He is buried in the Ukraine on the shores of the Black Sea.
Image. Reverse before Title Page
Image. Title Page
Long after his death, John Howard was revered as a symbol of Christian compassion. Since his death, many institutions and organizations have named themselves after him. In 1841, Alabama Baptists honored his legacy by naming their new college after him. Although Howard College was renamed Samford University in 1965, the Howard College of Arts and Sciences continues to bear his name and serves as a part of the university's educational foundation. In addition, the Howard College of Arts and Science further honors his legacy through the Howard Scholars Program.
Image. Front of John Howard coin bank
Image. Back of John Howard coin bank
In 2010, Special Collection received a generous donation of items in connection with John Howard, these items included a bank from a savings institution in New Jersey, a letter written to a friend about Howard’s book on prisons, a copy of The State of the Prisons in England and Wales, and a clipping of the Howard statues unveiling in Bedford that was published in The Illustrated London News on April 7, 1894.
Image. The Duke of Bedford unveiling a statue of John Howard at Bedford
Image. Howard Statue & High Street, Bedford
Resources
- Howard College of Arts and Sciences. Scholars Programs. Samford University. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.samford.edu/arts-and-sciences/scholars-programs
- New World Encyclopedia. John Howard (prison reformer). Accessed September 30, 2024. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/John_Howard_(prison_reformer)#Publications
- Samford University. Samford to Dedicate Statue to John Howard Feb. 13. Last modified February 1, 2016. Accessed October 7, 2024. https://www.samford.edu/news/2016/02/Samford-to-Dedicate-Statue-to-John-Howard-Feb-13
- SC 6014 John Howard Letter, May 1789 and the book to which is referred in letter, The State of Prisons in England and Wales, 1777
- SCAV 1065 (Howard, John, statue)
