Dorothea Dix's Life, And Early Life

Dorothea Dix was an inspiring woman who worked hard to help the poor and mentally ill. This paper will talk about her early life, her inspiration, and her career. The first subject will be the early life of Dorothea Dix. Dorothea Lynde Dix was the first-born child of three siblings, herself, Joseph, and the youngest, Charles Wesley. She was born on April 4, 1802, in Hampden, Maine, to Mary and Joseph Dix. When she was younger Dorothea’s grandfather would lead her to the flower gardens at the back his house. This man instilled in Dorothea a love of nature she would never lose, “He would point out the beds of phlox, marigolds, astors, tiger lilies, and hollyhocks that bloomed in the spring and summer. One chance seed that suddenly sprung to life became known as the Dix pear. The myriad flowers awakened in Dorothea a love of

Much of Dorothea’s early life was spent going between her home in Hampden and her grandparent’s home in Orange Court. She was taught to read by her father and she taught her two younger brothers. Joseph started to drink a lot when they moved to Worcester and Mary was suffering from acute and incurable headaches. When Dorothea was twelve she went to live with her grandmother who wanted to make her a “belle”, though all Dorothea wanted to do was feed needy children. At age fourteen Dorothea was sent to live with her Great Aunt Sarah for a while and actually stayed for four years. It was with these relatives when she met Edward Bangs, her fourteen years older, second cousin, who soon fell in love with her. Edward was the one who suggested Dorothea start “a little dame school” a school for young girls to be taught in private by a young woman, at this time girls were not permitted to attend public school.