Roberts Vaux (1786 - 1836)

Roberts Vaux (January 25, 1786 – January 7, 1836) was an American lawyer, jurist, abolitionist, and philanthropist. Vaux helped found Pennsylvania's public-school system (and for fourteen years held the first presidency of the board of public schools of Philadelphia), and at one time was a member of more than fifty philanthropic societies. Vaux became noted for his interest in abolition, as well as Native American issues. He helped found the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, the School for the Blind, the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and other benevolent societies of the city and state. Vaux also had a part in the creation of the Frankford Asylum for the Insane (now known as Friends Hospital). He was a member of scientific societies in Europe, and of the American Philosophical Society (elected in 1819). He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1834.