Elihu Burritt was an American diplomat, philanthropist and social activist, born December 8, 1810, in New Britain, Connecticut. He was a descendant of William and Elizabeth Burritt from Stratford, Connecticut. He first worked as a blacksmith. As an adult he was active as a lecturer in many causes, opposing slavery, working for temperance, and trying to achieve world peace. He was a prolific lecturer, journalist and writer, who traveled widely in the US and Europe.