SYLVESTER GRAHAM

BACKGROUND

• Born in West Suffield, Connecticut
• Was the 17th child
• Son of Reverend John Graham
• Grew up in different households
• Gave lectures on his principles

EDUCATION

• Went to Amherst college for a year
• Wanted to become a minister
• Left school to support the temperance movement

GOALS AND AMBITIONS

• Inspired a health craze
• Wanted people to become vegetarians
• Wanted people to use unsifted wheat flour instead of refined white flour
• Emphasized temperance

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Had followers known as the Grahamites
• Helped found the American vegetarian society
• Developed a Graham flour
• Wrote his Treatise on Bread and Bread Making