Charles-Michel de l'Épée

1712.11.24 Charles-Michel de l'Épée was born at Versailles. His father was an architect in the service of the King.​

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1725 Charles-Michel moved to this family home in Paris, on rue des Moulins when he was 3 years old. At 48 years old, he opened a school in it, supported by his personal inherited money and he died 29 years after in that same building. 

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​​​1760  Abbe de l'Épée was at the head of a school in France, consisting of a little company of deaf-mutes, which was commenced by him five or six years earlier, with two pupils. His school was in the Montmarte District of what is now Paris.

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1776 He wrote "Institution des sourds et muets par la voie des signes méthodiques".

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1780 The Ambassador of the Empress of Russia paid him a visit to congratulate him on his success and offered presents but l'Épée suggested that Russia send students for him to teach and spread his methods.

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1784 He wrote "La véritable maniere d'instruire les sourds et muets: confirmée par une longue expérience, Volume 1".

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1788 The legend was born that l'Épée refused fuel for his fire in order to save money

to promote his school but was convinced by his students to heat his home so as

they not lose him.

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1789.12.03 l'Épée passed away in Paris at the age of seventy-seven (77) years old. This famous painting  on the right is the "The Last Moments of Abbe Charles Michel de l'Epee  1838 by Frederic Peyson, an oil on canvas.

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1791.07.29 The French government decided to rename l'Épée's school as the Institution Nationale des Sourds-Muets in Paris, but in the Bastille quarter, near the Seine harbour. In April 1794 the deaf pupils, under the care of the Abbé Sicard came in the ancient monastery at 254 rue Saint Jacques, where they still are today.  l'Épée's dream of a permanent school in Paris became a reality. 

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1840 Monument of him erected in the Eglise Saint-Roch at his burial site in the 1st Arrondissement of Paris, France.

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1912.08  Bicenterary celebration in at the Paris Congress in Paris, France. Educated Deaf representatives from England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany , Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, America and Turkey attended.

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1913 Edwin Isaac Holycross wrote the book " The Abbé de l'Épée (Charles-Michel de l'Épée) Founder of the Manual Instruction of the Deaf, and Other Early Teachers of the Deaf"

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1842.09.03 Monument to him was erected at Versailles.

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