Celebrating the bicentenary of Louis Braille's birth
The Inventor
Birth
Louis Braille was born on January 4th, 1809 in Coupvray, just outside Paris, France. He lost his sight at the age of 3 when he had an accident in his father’s workshop and struck his eye with a sharp tool, known as an awl, used in harnessmaking. His eye became infected, which then spread to his other eye, causing him to lose his sight.
Schooling
When Louis was 10 he attended the Royal Institution for Blind Youth in Paris, France. At the time it was the world’s first school for blind male children. He was very bright and particularly good at maths and science, and also an accomplished musician, playing the the organ and cello.
Inventing
Louis invented the braille code at the age of 15. Louis remained at the institute where he became a teacher and passed on his new braille system to other students.
Death
Louis died from tuberculosis at the age of 43 on January 6th 1852. His braille code almost died with him, but a few avid followers kept it alive, and it became recognised in France shortly after his death. However, it wasn’t fully recognised across the world until the early 1900’s. (Reference: #1)
Further Reading
This is just a short summary of Louis Braille’s life, for further reading, please refer to the articles and books pages.
The Inventor
Birth
Schooling
When Louis was 10 he attended the Royal Institution for Blind Youth in Paris, France. At the time it was the world’s first school for blind male children. He was very bright and particularly good at maths and science, and also an accomplished musician, playing the the organ and cello.
Inventing
Louis invented the braille code at the age of 15. Louis remained at the institute where he became a teacher and passed on his new braille system to other students.
Death
Louis died from tuberculosis at the age of 43 on January 6th 1852. His braille code almost died with him, but a few avid followers kept it alive, and it became recognised in France shortly after his death. However, it wasn’t fully recognised across the world until the early 1900’s. (Reference: #1)
Further Reading
This is just a short summary of Louis Braille’s life, for further reading, please refer to the articles and books pages.
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