Episode 28 - The Blind Knight

In this episode we will look at the story behind the story of The Blind Knight.  It is a story of a man, physically blind but with a vision and the will to accomplish it.  He serves as an inspiration to us all.

References:

Wikipedia

Historical Marker Database (hmdb.org)

Francis Joseph Campbell - Perkins School for the Blind (Perkins.org)

Transcript

Hello Friends,

 I’m your host Dave Laton and welcome to Signs of Our Time, Discovering America’s heritage, one sign at a time.

 This podcast is designed to provide the story behind the story found on America’s roadside historical signs and markers.  

 In this episode I want to look at the story behind the story found on a marker in Winchester, Tennessee in Franklin County on U.S. highway 64.  

There are many unusual historical markers that capture significant people, events, locations, and all sorts of other fascinating information.  A friend of mine recently suggested to me that I do this episode.

Here’s the story behind the story of the Blind Knight.

Francis Joseph Campbell was born in Winchester, Tennessee October 9th, 1832.  He is known as a British-American anti-slavery campaigner, teacher, and co-founder of the Royal National College for Blind in the United Kingdom.  Campbell was not born blind.  When he was 5, he lost his sight in an accident involving a thorn bush.  

At the age of 12 he was among the first students of the Tennessee School for the Blind.  His interests involved music and mathematics.  Any of these accomplishments are significant by themselves, but add to that the challenges of being blind, and we see that he was indeed a very special person.  I am amazed that he was blind and able to learn mathematics.  I am among those that are challenged with mathematics and I can see.

Even music however was a challenge for him.  An early music teacher felt Campbell was hopeless as a musician and recommended he take up basket weaving or brush making.  Campbell was determined to follow his passion. Campbell took lessons from a fellow student and was given another chance.  After graduation at the age of 16, he became the new music teacher for the school.  I love it!

As happens many times when we experience something, maybe tragic, or not, we are drawn to it and often excel in it.  Cambell became passionate about the rights of blind persons.  He also recognized slavery as cruel and inhumane so became a very vocal against it. He even came close to being lynched on one occasion for teaching a slave to read.  

Later Campbell received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and went on to teach at various institutions in Wisconsin and Massachusetts.  He placed emphasis on blind students learning to be independent and self-sufficient.  This was a departure from attitudes towards handicapped, especially blind persons.

The in 1871, Cambell along with Tomas Armitage co-founded the royal Normal College and Academy for the Blind in London, England.  The goal was to provide comprehensive training for the blind.  He was the college’s first principle.  The school became a model for blind education and continues to operate today as the royal National College for the Blind.

Campbell’s interests went beyond anti-slavery and education.  He was the first blind person to climb Mont Blanc.  Mont Blanc is a mountain in the Alps rising 15, 766 feet above sea level.  It is among the highest mountains in Europe.  

Later he became a naturalized British citizen and in 1909 was knighted by King Edward the VII.  

Today, the Francis Joseph Campbell Award is given annually by the American Library Association for persons who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of library services for the blind.  

When we think of a knight, we often think of a person strong in character that champions righteousness in all forms.  That is an accurate description of Sir Francis Joseph Campbell.  A blind Tennessean boy who went on to conquer mountains both in a physical sense and in life.  Although physically blind, he possessed a vision and an indomitable spirit to accomplish it.

Well friends there you have it.   I hope you enjoyed this episode.  I invite you to subscribe and continue listening as we bring more episodes about the rich heritage of our great nation.

Please share this podcast with others.  If you have interesting stories about historical signs and markers, email me at: americanhistoricalmarkers@gmail.com.  Maybe your story behind the story will be featured.

I’m your host Dave Laton and thank you for listening, and safe travels!