He was born at Tilgate in Sussex into a family of wealthy Yorkshire industrialists, the son of James Armitage (1793–1872) and Anne Elizabeth Armitage née Rhodes (1788–1833), of Farnley Hall, just south of Leeds, Yorkshire. His great-grandfather James (1730–1803) bought Farnley Hall from Sir Thomas Danby (of the family of Thomas Danby, first mayor of Leeds) in 1799, and in 1844 four Armitage brothers (including his father) founded the Farnley Ironworks, utilising the coal, iron and fireclay on their estate. His brother Edward Armitage was a member of the Royal Academy.
He was raised at Avranches in France, and at Frankfurt and Offenbach in Germany. He attended the Sorbonne and King's College London. He became a physician, practising at the Marylebone Dispensary, in the Crimean War, and as a private consultant in London. He was forced to abandon his medical career because of deteriorating vision, eventually becoming blind.
Armitage decided to help make literature available to blind people through embossed type: in Britain this had become complicated by the proliferation of different standards. He formed the "British and Foreign Society for Improving the Embossed Literature of the Blind", later the "British and Foreign Blind Association for Promoting the Education and Employment of the Blind" and (after his death) the "National Institute for the Blind". This group decided to adopt the system of Louis Braille, and Armitage worked tirelessly for the adoption of Braille.
His daughter Alice Stanley Armitage continued his work for the National Council for the Blind and drafted its first constitution.[3]
Armitage's gravestone in Margorban
He was married to Harriett Black, and died on 23 October 1890 at Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland, following a riding accident.[2] He is buried in Magorban, County Tipperary.[3][4]
Referencesedit
^"History of RNIB - RNIB - Supporting people with sight loss". 24 February 2014.
^ ab"Thomas Rhodes Armitage". British Medical Journal. 2 (1557): 1039–1040. 1890. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.1557.1039-a. PMC2208378.
^ ab"Derrynaflan Trail -". www.slieveardagh.com. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
thomas, armitage, other, people, named, disambiguation, thomas, rhodes, armitage, april, 1824, october, 1890, british, physician, founder, royal, national, institute, blind, people, thomas, rhodes, armitagebornapril, 1824sussexdiedoctober, 1890thurlesnationali. For other people named Thomas Armitage see Thomas Armitage disambiguation Thomas Rhodes Armitage 2 April 1824 23 October 1890 was a British physician and founder of the Royal National Institute of Blind People 1 2 Thomas Rhodes ArmitageBornThomas ArmitageApril 2 1824SussexDiedOctober 23 1890ThurlesNationalityBritishOccupationphysicianKnown forFounder of the Royal National Institute of Blind PeopleHe was born at Tilgate in Sussex into a family of wealthy Yorkshire industrialists the son of James Armitage 1793 1872 and Anne Elizabeth Armitage nee Rhodes 1788 1833 of Farnley Hall just south of Leeds Yorkshire His great grandfather James 1730 1803 bought Farnley Hall from Sir Thomas Danby of the family of Thomas Danby first mayor of Leeds in 1799 and in 1844 four Armitage brothers including his father founded the Farnley Ironworks utilising the coal iron and fireclay on their estate His brother Edward Armitage was a member of the Royal Academy Armitage was the uncle of Robert Armitage MP the great uncle of Robert Selby Armitage and first cousin twice removed of Edward Leathley Armitage He was raised at Avranches in France and at Frankfurt and Offenbach in Germany He attended the Sorbonne and King s College London He became a physician practising at the Marylebone Dispensary in the Crimean War and as a private consultant in London He was forced to abandon his medical career because of deteriorating vision eventually becoming blind Armitage decided to help make literature available to blind people through embossed type in Britain this had become complicated by the proliferation of different standards He formed the British and Foreign Society for Improving the Embossed Literature of the Blind later the British and Foreign Blind Association for Promoting the Education and Employment of the Blind and after his death the National Institute for the Blind This group decided to adopt the system of Louis Braille and Armitage worked tirelessly for the adoption of Braille In 1871 he helped to establish the Royal Normal College for the Blind later the Royal National College for the Blind in London His daughter Alice Stanley Armitage continued his work for the National Council for the Blind and drafted its first constitution 3 Armitage s gravestone in MargorbanHe was married to Harriett Black and died on 23 October 1890 at Thurles County Tipperary Ireland following a riding accident 2 He is buried in Magorban County Tipperary 3 4 References edit History of RNIB RNIB Supporting people with sight loss 24 February 2014 a b Thomas Rhodes Armitage British Medical Journal 2 1557 1039 1040 1890 doi 10 1136 bmj 2 1557 1039 a PMC 2208378 a b Derrynaflan Trail www slieveardagh com Retrieved 17 January 2022 See his gravestone External links editRoyal National Institute of Blind People RNIB Thomas Rhodes Armitage RNIB Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Armitage amp oldid 1169488434, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
