William A. (William Augustus) Mowry

Born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, in 1829, William Augustus Mowry became an American educator, historian, and author. He studied at Brown University from 1854 to 1857, later received an honorary A.M. from Brown, and built much of his career in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Mowry taught at Providence High School and went on to found Mowry and Goff's School in Providence, a well-known private school. He also served as superintendent of schools in Cranston, Rhode Island, and in Salem, Massachusetts, and was associated with early teachers' institutes, reflecting his long commitment to improving education.

Alongside his school work, he wrote many books, especially on American history, civics, and biography, including texts for students and general readers. He died in 1917, leaving behind a reputation as a hardworking educator whose writing aimed to make history clear and useful for young readers.