William Andrus Alcott (August 6, 1798 – March 29, 1859), also known as William Alexander Alcott, was an American educator, educational reformer, medical doctor, vegetarian and writer. His works, which include a wide range of topics including educational reform, physical education, school house design, family life, and diet, are still widely cited today.
Early life and family
William Alcott was born in Wolcott, Connecticut. His father, Obedience Alcox (1776–1847), was a farmer; in the 1820s, like many members of the family, he altered the spelling of his last name, which on his tombstone appears as "Obid. Alcott". His mother was Anna Andrus (1777–1864), who was the daughter of a Revolutionary War soldier and William's most important educational influence. He attended local schools and became a close friend of his near neighbor Amos Bronson Alcott, who would later enjoy wide fame as a philosopher and as the father of writer Louisa May Alcott. Although sometimes described simply as "cousins" the two were actually second cousins; William's grandfather David Alcott (1740–1841) was the brother of Amos Bronson Alcott's grandfather, Captain John Alcott. The two boys shared books, exchanged ideas, and started a small library together. Odell Shepard had written of Amos Bronson Alcott, "Indeed there is a sense in which nearly everything Alcott wrote and did is attributable to William".
Alcott lived in Dedham, Massachusetts, where he was the superintendent of the Sunday School at the Allin Congregational Church. He was known to walk barefoot on summer mornings from his home in the village up to Federal Hill to obtain a bucket of milk.
