Ottavio Giovanni Battista Assarotti (25 October 1753, in
Genoa24 January 1829) was an Italian philanthropist and founder of the first school for
deaf people in Italy.
Life
After qualifying himself for the church, he entered the society of the
Piarists, Padri of the "Scuole Pie", who devoted themselves to the training of the young. In 1801 he heard of the
Abbe Sicard's education of deaf people in
Paris, and resolved to do something similar in Italy. He began with one pupil, and by degrees collected a small number around him.
In 1805,
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
, hearing of his endeavors, ordered a
convent to give him a school-house and funds for supporting twelve scholars, to be taken from the convent revenues.
This order was poorly attended to until 1811, when it was renewed, and the following year Assarotti, with a considerable number of pupils, took possession of the new school. He continued there until his death in 1829. A pension, which had been awarded him by the king of
Sardinia, was bequeathed to his scholars.
He introduced a version of methodical signing.
References
1753 births
1829 deaths
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