Joseph Lancaster, an English educator, born in London in 1771 or 1778, died in New York, Oct. 24, 1838. In 1798 he opened a school for poor children in Southwark on the principle of mutual instruction, first introduced in India by Dr. Andrew Bell. He taught almost gratuitously, and the number of his pupils gradually increased to 300. His success attracted public attention, subscriptions poured in to him from all quarters, and numerous schools on the same plan were opened by him in different parts of the country. From 1807 to 1811 he travelled through the country, lecturing on education. In 1812 he attempted to found a school for children of opulent parents, but failed, and became insolvent. He emigrated in 1818 to the United States, where he was well received, but injured his prospects by imprudence. In 1829 he went to Canada, where the legislature made some pecuniary grants to enable him to give his system a fair trial. Again becoming embarrassed, some of his friends purchased for him a small annuity, and he removed to New York. He wrote a work on " Improvement in Education" (London, 1805), several elementary school books, and pamphlets in defence of his system, which has been known by his name and successfully practised in many parts of Great Britain and other countries.