Samuel Ullman

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Samuel Ullman (born April 13, 1840 in Hechingen , † March 21, 1924 in Birmingham , Alabama ) was an American entrepreneur, poet and benefactor. Today is best known for his work Youth . This book was a favorite of General Douglas MacArthur . The work was on the bookshelf of his Tokyo office when he was Supreme Allied Commander in Japan from 1945 to 1951 . He quoted from this book frequently in his speeches, which made it better known in Japan than in the United States.

Ullman was born to Jewish parents in 1840 in Hechingen, then the capital of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen . At the age of eleven he emigrated with his family to the United States to escape discrimination. The family moved to Port Gibson , Mississippi . After a brief stint in the Southern Army, Ullman came to Natchez , Mississippi. There he married, opened a shop, was a councilor and a member of the local school board.

In 1884 Ullman moved to the fledgling city of Birmingham , Alabama, and was immediately appointed to the city's first school board.

During his eighteen years of service he fought for educational rights for black children similar to those of white children. In addition to his numerous charitable activities, Ullman also served as president and then rabbi of the Reform Congregation at Emanu-El Temple . Often controversial but always respected, Ullman left his mark on the religious, educational and social life of Natchez and Birmingham.

In retirement, Ullman found more time for one of his favorite passions - writing letters, essays, and poetry. His poems, essays, and books are about topics such as love, nature, religion, family, a friend's hurried lifestyle, and “the young” life. General Douglas MacArthur is largely thanks to Ullman's success, through his influence the people of Japan discovered Youth and began to be curious about the author.

Ullmann died in Birmingham in 1924.

In 1994 Alabama State University in Birmingham and the Japanese-American Society of Alabama opened the Samuel Ullman Museum in Birmingham. The museum is located on the spot where Samuel Ullman used to live. The museum is operated by Alabama State University.

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personal data
SURNAME Ullman, Samuel
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American entrepreneur, poet, and benefactor
DATE OF BIRTH April 13, 1840
PLACE OF BIRTH Hechingen
DATE OF DEATH March 21, 1924
Place of death Birmingham