Horace Mann was born on May 4, 1796, and was a innovator in the field of education. Growing up in an environment without many resources, Mann turned to his local library for learning. At the age of 20, he was accepted into Brown University as a sophomore. At Brown, he worked on issues involving education, social reform, and politics.
As an American educator, Mann was one of the first Americans who advocated for education to be free and for everyone in society. Horace Mann deeply supported the Common School Movement, which was the idea of allowing every child to receive a basic education that was funded by local taxes. Overall, Mann was an inspiration to many and paved the road for free access to public education.