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Louis Laurent Marie Clerc ( French: [lɔʁɑ̃ klɛʁ]; 26 December 1788 – 18 July 1869) was a French teacher called "The Apostle of the Deaf in America" and was regarded as the most renowned deaf person in American Deaf History. He was taught by Abbé Sicard and deaf educator Jean Massieu, at the Institution Nationale des Sourds-Muets in Paris.
Feb 15, 2021 · Laurent Clerc played a significant part in the history of American Sign Language and was the first deaf teacher of the deaf in America. He was also among the first of these educators in the world and has been known as “The Apostle of the Deaf in America” and “The Father of the Deaf.”
Biography of Laurent Clerc. JSAC 1225. 202.448-7036. Email Us. Would you believe that the first outstanding deaf teacher in America was a Frenchman? His name was Laurent Clerc. He became a friend of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and together they founded America’s first school for the deaf.
He was born to Joseph Francois on December 26, 1785, in La Balme-Les-Grottes, France. His father was the royal civil attorney, justice of the peace and a mayor of a village over a decade. From the 15th century, the males of the Clerc family served the king through the Royal Commissary.
Laurent Clerc was the first deaf person to stand before congress, as well as the President of the United States. His best left impression on today is that about fifty-eight percent of American sign language, came from Laurent Clerc's teachings. (L.C.N.D.E.C)
Laurent Clerc’s impact extends far beyond his lifetime. He is remembered as a key figure in the development of deaf culture and ASL. Clerc’s advocacy for sign language and deaf rights laid the groundwork for future generations, shaping the landscape of deaf education and community.
Laurent Clerc arrived in Hartford in 1816 and brought with him the sign language of Paris, a city with a large Deaf community. He taught this visually sophisticated language to Gallaudet and other teachers.
