Lancaster, Joseph

Lancaster, Joseph an English Quaker, was born in London, November 25, 1775, and died about October 4, 1838. He was the promulgator of the mutual system of education first introduced by Dr. Bell at Madras, but afterwards known both in England and America as the Lancasterian System, and gave an impulse, by his writings and lectures, to the cause of popular education in many countries. He first opened a school for poor children in St. George's Field, and soon rendered his method very popular. For the characteristics of his system, see Watts, Bibl. Brit., and his works (London, 1854); Lond. Quart. Rev. 6:24; North Amer. Rev. 18:184; Living Age, April 1845; Allibone, Dict. of British and Amer. Authors, 2:1052; Thomas, Biog. Dict. page 1365.