Emma Willard

Emma Willard
Emma Willard, c. 1805–1815
Born
Emma Hart

February 23, 1787
DiedApril 15, 1870 (aged 83)
Occupation(s)Educator, author, women's rights activist

Emma Willard (née Hart; February 23, 1787 – April 15, 1870) was an American female education activist who dedicated her life to education. She worked in several schools and founded the first school for women's higher education in the United States, the Troy Female Seminary in Troy, New York. With the success of her school, Willard was able to travel across the country and abroad to promote education for women. The seminary was renamed the Emma Willard School in 1895 in her honor.