How VI People Have Shaped Our World
The image shows an old book open on a table. A magnifying glass is balanced on its side in front of the book.
We love using our blogs to celebrate the achievements of visually impaired people throughout history. It’s amazing to see their influence on our culture and society. There are countless fascinating examples to look at, but in this month’s blog, we’ll dip into a few interesting lives and see how their influence surrounds us and continues to shape our world.
Do you know the origin of the famous idiom, “turning a blind eye”? During the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was blind in one eye (and now sits on top of a column in Trafalgar Square), received an order from his senior, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, to discontinue his attack. The message was sent via signal flags. Being less cautious than the overall commander of the British forces, Nelson raised his telescope to his blind eye and said, “I have a right to be blind sometimes. I really do not see the signal.” So, the attack went on.
Since the inception of the industrial era, visually impaired people have populated all levels of society. In the 18th century, VI people formed a large part of the vagrant community known as “billies in bowls” and “sledge-beggars”, terms which described their begging methods. However, many were supported by families, friends, and workplaces. In Britain, side effects from smallpox, measles, and whooping cough were the main causes of sight loss. There were very few treatments for blindness, but a rudimentary cataract surgery did exist called “couching” which was performed by barbers and monks. This led to the first cataract removal in 1748 which was performed by Jacques Daviel. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that this surgery was performed commonly in Britain.
Sir Arthur Pearson, a name you may have heard, had low vision his entire life. After an unsuccessful operation for glaucoma in 1908, he was told that he would soon be completely blind. Pearson’s success began with a magazine called Pearson’s Weekly in 1890. In 1900, he founded the Daily Express, and in 1905, The Standard and Evening Standard. Motivated by his experience, Pearson committed much of his life to improving opportunities for blind people. He was president of the RNIB and opened a hostel for servicemen blinded during World War 1. He said: “I wanted them to be led to look upon blindness… not merely as a calamity, but as an opportunity.” His blue plaque can be found at 21 Portland Place, Marylebone, London.
The history of VI people is certainly one of difficulty for various reasons depending upon the century we’re talking about. But it is strewn with stories of joy, resilience, and influence that will live on. It really is a fascinating history to explore. It can be a tough read sometimes but it's also very inspiring, and it’s heartening to look at the progress that’s been made.