One of a Thousand/Bicknell, Thomas Williams

 

Bicknell, Thomas Williams, son of Allen and Harriet Byron (Kinnicutt) Bicknell, was born in Barrington, Bristol county, R. I., September 6, 1834.

Mr. Bicknell's education was obtained in the public schools of his native State until he was sixteen years of age. In 1850 he entered Thetford Academy, Vt., then under the principalship of Hiram Orcutt, LL. D., and was graduated from this institution, with the Greek oration, in the class of 1853. He entered Amherst College the same year, but at the close of his first year went West, teaching one year in Illinois, and returning East, taught a high school in Rehoboth, for two years. In 1857 Mr. Bicknell entered the sophomore class of Brown University, and was graduated with the degree of A. M., in 1860, under the presidency of Rev. Dr. Bamas Sears.

In 1859 Mr. Bicknell was elected from his native town to the Rhode Island Legislature, and served in that body during his senior year in Brown University. In 1860 he was elected principal of the high school, Bristol, R. I., occupying that position five years, and afterwards holding the position of principal of Arnold Street grammar school, Providence, four years.

In 1869 he was appointed commissioner of the public schools of Rhode Island, and held the office until 1875. His power was immediately felt in the state, and sweeping reforms without revolution, a rapid advance in public sentiment, favoring liberal legislation and increased appropriations, were the immediate results of his administration.

In 1875 Mr. Bicknell founded and became the editor of the "Journal of Education," and with this he established and published the "Primary Teacher," "Good Times," and the bi-monthly international magazine, "Education." All these educational works are having to-day a most successful mission in their peculiar field. The bureau of education, now in charge of Dr. Hiram Orcutt, was established by Mr. Bicknell in 1876.

He has been president of the American Institute of Instruction, National Council of Education, National Teachers' Association, Rhode Island Sunday-school Union, Boston Sunday-school Superintendents' Union, Massachusetts Sunday-school Association, New England Sunday-school Union, International Sunday-school Union, Bicknell Family Association, Interstate Commission on Education, Chautauqua Teachers' Reading Union, and the New England Publishing Company.

He was a member of the General Court of 1889, chairman of House committee on education, serving as a member also of the committee on woman suffrage.

Mr. Bicknell was married in Rehoboth, September 5, 1860, to Amelia Davie, daughter of Christopher and Chloe (Carpenter) Blanding. Of this union was one child: Martha E. Bicknell. His residence is Boston, where he is engaged in important financial interests.

Mr. Bicknell has been actively identified with the Republican party since its formation in 1856. He has been engaged in educational work in all its departments as a teacher, school officer, editor, writer and lecturer, since 1854, and has advocated and been a leader in most of the advanced educational movements of the day.

In church and Sunday-school work he has been equally prominent and influential, taking advanced grounds in the liberal Congregational movements of the last ten years. His advocacy of temperance, woman suffrage, and other reforms has been vigorous, intelligent and sincere.