John McDonogh
Encyclopedia
John McDonogh was a United States
entrepreneur
and philanthropist
, described as miserly, controversial, and eccentric. He is most famous for endowing public education
in two major American cities—New Orleans and Baltimore
.
on a ship to Liverpool, England
, to procure a cargo of goods for the Louisiana trade. He was successful, and after a second such voyage decided to make his home in New Orleans. Establishing a store and engaging in the "commission and shipping business," he prospered there.
In 1818, he was a candidate for the U.S. Senate. After he lost that election, he left New Orleans and settled across the Mississippi River
, establishing the town of McDonoghville, now called McDonogh, which is in present-day Algiers
and Gretna
. The site of his McDonoville home has long since been eroded into the Mississippi River.
The young McDonogh was mentioned as having unsuccessfully courted
Micaela Almonester, who went on to become the Baroness Pontalba, one of the most important figures in New Orleans history
; however, there are no documented sources of this rumor. He was also rebuffed in courtship later in life. A failure to marry and the loss of the Senate race may have contributed to a life which has been described as reclusive. William H. Seymour
, a local and near-contemporary chronicler, described him in 1896 as having been an "eccentric philanthropist" who "for twenty-two long years toiled" within the walls of his "somber dwelling."
McDonogh was a workaholic and worked long hours almost until the time of his death administering his vast land holdings, which were believed the be the largest of any private individual in the world in 1850 when he died. His land holdings entirely surrounded the rapidly growing city of New Orleans and elsewhere in southeast Louisiana.
. In 1822 he devised a manumission
scheme by which his slaves could buy their freedom. The process took about 15 years; thus he was able to profit from their labor before he set them free. McDonogh was also active in, and contributed to, the American Colonization Society
, which enabled freed black slaves to emigrate back to Africa. McDonogh used the Society to provide passage to Liberia
for many of his former slaves.
, he left the bulk of his fortune—close to $2 million—to the cities of Baltimore and New Orleans for the purpose of building public schools for poor children—specifically, white and freed black children. This was unprecedented, and proved controversial. His heirs contested the will, and the case, McDonogh's Executors v. Murdoch, went to the U.S. Supreme Court. This delayed execution of the will until 1858, with New Orleans receiving a settlement of $704,440.
Baltimore already had a substantial public school system, but McDonogh's will
also stipulated the creation of a "school farm" for underprivileged boys outside of the city. McDonogh School
in Owings Mills, Maryland
, founded in 1873, was the result.
The New Orleans public school system
had been established in 1841, but the McDonogh Fund facilitated major expansion. Eventually over 30 schools were built, most emblazoned with his name and a number. By the early 1970s there were 20 McDonogh schools remaining in New Orleans. In the 1980s and 1990s, many of those were renamed in a movement to remove the names of slaveholders from New Orleans' public schools. The following John McDonogh schools are still in operation, post-Katrina: John McDonogh High School
, #7, #15, #26, #28, #32, #35, #42.
McDonogh's will proved difficult to administer because of the large number of properties involved, many of which were rented. Also, McDonogh had stipulated the properties to be a perpetual trust and that no properties could ever be sold. The trustees eventually got a court ruling allowing them to sell off the property. Money from the trust funded schools for about 100 years, although because of population growth the estate was not sufficient to cover the entire school systems expenses.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, described as miserly, controversial, and eccentric. He is most famous for endowing public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
in two major American cities—New Orleans and Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
.
Life and career
McDonogh was born in Baltimore and entered the shipping business there. In 1800 his employers sent him as supercargoSupercargo
Supercargo is a term in maritime law that refers to a person employed on board a vessel by the owner of cargo carried on the ship...
on a ship to Liverpool, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to procure a cargo of goods for the Louisiana trade. He was successful, and after a second such voyage decided to make his home in New Orleans. Establishing a store and engaging in the "commission and shipping business," he prospered there.
In 1818, he was a candidate for the U.S. Senate. After he lost that election, he left New Orleans and settled across the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, establishing the town of McDonoghville, now called McDonogh, which is in present-day Algiers
Algiers, Louisiana
Algiers is a neighborhood within the city of New Orleans. It is the portion of Orleans Parish on the West Bank of the Mississippi River.Algiers is also known as the 15th Ward, one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans.-History:...
and Gretna
Gretna, Louisiana
The city of Gretna is the parish seat of Jefferson Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. Gretna is on the west bank of the Mississippi River, just east and across the river from uptown New Orleans. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. The site of his McDonoville home has long since been eroded into the Mississippi River.
The young McDonogh was mentioned as having unsuccessfully courted
Courtship
Courtship is the period in a couple's relationship which precedes their engagement and marriage, or establishment of an agreed relationship of a more enduring kind. In courtship, a couple get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement or other such agreement...
Micaela Almonester, who went on to become the Baroness Pontalba, one of the most important figures in New Orleans history
History of New Orleans
The history of New Orleans, Louisiana traces the city's development from its founding by the French, through its period under Spanish control, then back to French rule before being sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase...
; however, there are no documented sources of this rumor. He was also rebuffed in courtship later in life. A failure to marry and the loss of the Senate race may have contributed to a life which has been described as reclusive. William H. Seymour
William H. Seymour
William Henry Seymour was an American politician and amateur historian best-known for having written a history of Algiers, Louisiana....
, a local and near-contemporary chronicler, described him in 1896 as having been an "eccentric philanthropist" who "for twenty-two long years toiled" within the walls of his "somber dwelling."
McDonogh was a workaholic and worked long hours almost until the time of his death administering his vast land holdings, which were believed the be the largest of any private individual in the world in 1850 when he died. His land holdings entirely surrounded the rapidly growing city of New Orleans and elsewhere in southeast Louisiana.
Slaveholding and manumission
McDonogh was a slaveholderHistory of slavery in the United States
Slavery in the United States was a form of slave labor which existed as a legal institution in North America for more than a century before the founding of the United States in 1776, and continued mostly in the South until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in...
. In 1822 he devised a manumission
Manumission
Manumission is the act of a slave owner freeing his or her slaves. In the United States before the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished most slavery, this often happened upon the death of the owner, under conditions in his will.-Motivations:The...
scheme by which his slaves could buy their freedom. The process took about 15 years; thus he was able to profit from their labor before he set them free. McDonogh was also active in, and contributed to, the American Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
, which enabled freed black slaves to emigrate back to Africa. McDonogh used the Society to provide passage to Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
for many of his former slaves.
Legacy
Although during his life McDonogh was an infamous miserMiser
A miser, cheapskate, snipe-snout, penny pincher, piker, scrooge, skinflint or tightwad is a person who is reluctant to spend money, sometimes to the point of forgoing even basic comforts and some necessities...
, he left the bulk of his fortune—close to $2 million—to the cities of Baltimore and New Orleans for the purpose of building public schools for poor children—specifically, white and freed black children. This was unprecedented, and proved controversial. His heirs contested the will, and the case, McDonogh's Executors v. Murdoch, went to the U.S. Supreme Court. This delayed execution of the will until 1858, with New Orleans receiving a settlement of $704,440.
Baltimore already had a substantial public school system, but McDonogh's will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
also stipulated the creation of a "school farm" for underprivileged boys outside of the city. McDonogh School
McDonogh School
McDonogh School is a private, coeducational, K-12, college-preparatory school founded in Owings Mills, Maryland, USA in 1873.- History :The school was established near Baltimore, Maryland in 1873 and funded by the estate of John McDonogh, a former Baltimore resident, who died in 1850...
in Owings Mills, Maryland
Owings Mills, Maryland
Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore. The population was 20,193 at the 2000 census. Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus for the Baltimore Metro Subway and to Owings Mills Mall....
, founded in 1873, was the result.
The New Orleans public school system
New Orleans Public Schools
New Orleans Public Schools is a public school system that serves all of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Schools within the system are governed by a multitude of entities, including the Orleans Parish School Board , which directly administers 4 schools and has granted charters to another 12,...
had been established in 1841, but the McDonogh Fund facilitated major expansion. Eventually over 30 schools were built, most emblazoned with his name and a number. By the early 1970s there were 20 McDonogh schools remaining in New Orleans. In the 1980s and 1990s, many of those were renamed in a movement to remove the names of slaveholders from New Orleans' public schools. The following John McDonogh schools are still in operation, post-Katrina: John McDonogh High School
John McDonogh High School
John McDonogh Senior High School was the 3rd high school for African-American pupils in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. John McDonogh has a vast sport history, winning district in football, baseball, and basketball a combined 83 times in its 109 year history...
, #7, #15, #26, #28, #32, #35, #42.
McDonogh's will proved difficult to administer because of the large number of properties involved, many of which were rented. Also, McDonogh had stipulated the properties to be a perpetual trust and that no properties could ever be sold. The trustees eventually got a court ruling allowing them to sell off the property. Money from the trust funded schools for about 100 years, although because of population growth the estate was not sufficient to cover the entire school systems expenses.
John McDonogh's Rules for My Guidance in Life
- Remember always that labor is one of the conditions of our existence.
- Time is gold; throw not one minute away, but place each one into account.
- Do unto all men as you would be done by.
- Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
- Never bid another do what you can do yourself.
- Never covet what is not your own.
- Never think any matter so trivial as not to deserve notice.
- Never give out that which does not first come in.
- Never spend but to produce.
- Let the greatest order regulate the transactions of your life.
- Study in your course of life to do the greatest possible amount of good.
- Deprive yourself of nothing necessary to your comfort, but live in honorable simplicity and frugality.