Dorothea Lynde Dix, an American philanthropist and author, born in Worcester, Mass.

Left an orphan at an early age, she established in Boston a school for girls. She soon became interested in the condition of the unfortunate and criminal classes, and for many years was in the habit of visiting public institutions and ministering to the necessities of their inmates. In 1834 she went to Europe to investigate the methods of treatment for prisoners, paupers, and the insane. Returning in 1837, she visited all the states, and her exertions contributed greatly to the establishment of state asylums for lunatics in several of them. In 1848, and again in 1850, she petitioned congress for an appropriation of public lands to endow hospitals for the indigent insane. In 1854 a bill was passed granting 10,000,000 acres for this purpose; but it was vetoed by President Pierce. During the civil war she was superintendent of hospital nurses, having the entire control of their appointment and assignment to duty. After its close she resumed her labors for the insane. She has published several books, chiefly before entering upon her special work, including "Garland of Flora," "Private Hours," "Alice and Ruth," " Conversations about Common Things," and "Prisons and Prison Discipline." She has also written tracts for prisoners, and reports on philanthropic subjects.