The Power Of Compassion

A contemporary of John Thornton (see last post) also deserves wider recognition. John Howard (1726-1790) had an unpromising start to life, being physically frail and showing no aptitude for learning. But at the age of 24, he inherited riches from his father (a successful London tradesman) and an estate in Bedfordshire from his grandmother.

A life of comfortable obscurity beckoned. But in Howard's case, responsibility seems to have made the man. There were two catalysts. During the "Great Awakening" he had a profound conversion experience, becoming good friends with Methodist pioneer John Wesley (there is a statue of both men together in St Paul's Cathedral in London). Howard also got married. His wife, Henrietta, was a woman of fine character and great philanthropy.

The effects were soon felt on the Bedfordshire estate. Howard was one of few landlords at that time who saw his obligation to provide properly for his workers. He refused to allow them to live in squalor and embarked on a building program of workers' cottages, which still stand today. Howard also ensured that conditions in the workhouse (orphanage) were humane, and funded the education of all children living on his estate.

The death of his wife almost broke him, but it threw him into the work that would startle the civilised world. Having become Sheriff of Bedfordshire, he got to see at first hand the horrors of the prison system. Much like credit card debtors crippled by interest today, entire families were devastated by debt: the head of the house would languish in prison long after the original debt was paid, held there by the 'fees' demanded by jailers, who had no other income. Moreover, prison conditions were overcrowded, filthy and corrupt.

At this point we see the heart of the 'social entrepreneur' awaken. A philanthropist will demonstrate sympathy ('I feel so sorry for their suffering'), even empathy ('I feel their pain because I have suffered too'), and be moved to a gesture of great generosity. But the social entrepreneur demonstrates the compassion that says 'I feel their pain - and I'm going to DO something!'

Howard began lobbying parliament. Over the next 15 years he secured changes in the law:

debtors were to be freed when the original debt was paid;
jailors were to be salaried so that 'fees' could stop;
justices could be held legally responsible for the conditions in their prisons.

To ensure these were enforced, Howard toured the counties of England, visiting and enforcing. He also drew up plans for religious education to given to all prisoners.


His labours did not go unnoticed. Requests came from other lands to visit the reformed prisons. This in turn led to Howard becoming something of a globetrotter, visiting most of the nations of mainland Europe from Portugal to Russia, advising on prison reform and enabling spiritual input to convicts. It was on a trip to Ukraine that he died. His grave there has the epitaph "Whoever you are, you are standing at the grave of your friend". Back in England, a colleague said that "from the dungeon to the throne, his name was mentioned with respect, honour and gratitude".