Elihu Burritt Monument - New Marlborough, MA - Peace Memorials on Waymarking.com

A monument to peace activist Elihu Burritt contains a bronze plaque on an 8' high by 4' square stone column, flared at the base, and topped with an anvil. The plaque is inscribed:

Elihu Burritt was born in New Britain, Connecticut in 1810. After his father's death in 1828, he apprenticed himself to a local blacksmith. Elihu studied mathematics by practicing mental exercises at the while working. He later developed a love of linguistics. A served as a translator of German. Governor Edward Everett gave Burritt the name, "Learned Blacksmith."

Burritt lectured throughout New England about the joy of learning. He then turned his attention to humanitarian causes for which he is famous: the abolition of slavery, the dignity of the American working man, and the cause of world peace. In pursuit of peace, Burritt worked with the leading legislators in the United States and Europe. In England he addressed 150 meetings on behalf of the League of Universal Brotherhood. He travelled 10,000 in America to speak against slavery. In 1847, he visited Ireland during the potato famine and made Americans aware of the plight of the Irish.

Burritt joined the fight to reduce the cost of sending mail across the ocean to one penny, down from 25 cents. President Abraham Lincoln appointed Burritt United States consul at Birmingham, England where he served ably for several years.

Burritt was the author of over 37 books and articles. In addition, he edited many books and was the editor of several serial publications. He retired to Connecticut in 1870 and died in 1879 at the age of 69.