Description: Recognizing and Celebrating Great Teachers
Colonial school teacher and math wizard Nathan Daboll was also a Revolutionary War period figure. Photo credit: Public domain
Nathan Daboll was colonial school teacher and Revolutionary War period figure who authored the mathematics textbook used most often in American schools during the first half of the 19th century. In addition, Nathan published almanacs, which were important sources of information in his day, and he established a famous navigation school in New London, Connecticut.
Nathan was born in Groton, Connecticut, on April 24, 1750. As a child, the young Nathan received little formal education, studying for short time at the local school and then with an area tutor. Despite his lack of formal education, Nathan was born with a natural aptitude for mathematics. As a very young man, Nathan earned his living as a barrel-maker.