Elihu Burritt Monument

New Marlborough, MA - This monument is on the green in New Marlborough MA. It was erected for Elihu Burritt who studied to be a blacksmith in town. He was a very intelligent man, he had an aptitude for languages, and wrote over 37 books and articles. President Lincoln appointed him United States consul in Birmingham England. This earned him the title of "Learned Blacksmith"; he continued being an occasional blacksmith to make extra money. In 1848 he created the precursor to the League of Nations and the United Nations called the First International Congress of the Friends of Peace which convened in Brussels in Sept. 1848. He also advocated in Britain for the Ocean Penny Post, a reduction in the current rate. He argument was that this would increase international correspondence, trade, hence universal brotherhood.


A close-up of the plaque.

Info:Elihu Burritt Wikipedia