John McDonogh (1779-1850) was born in Baltimore but lived most of his adult life in New Orleans as a businessman, plantation owner, sometime-politician, and supporter of the American Colonization Society. His estate was built through the use of slave labor. McDonogh bequeathed approximately half of his enormous wealth to the City of New Orleans “for the establishment and support of Free Schools.” His will also provided for the establishment of a “school farm” in the city of Baltimore. In 1872, a tract of 835 acres was purchased for $85,000 for the school’s establishment.
John McDonogh was originally buried in a cemetery in New Orleans. In 1865, his body was moved by the City Council of Baltimore, who was acting as trustees for his property, to Green Mount Cemetery. A grave memorial was commissioned by the City Council to honor his directive to create a farm school for underprivileged boys. In 1945, his body and the sculpted memorial were moved to McDonogh School. Read more here. The cost of moving the monument to its present location was covered by the sale of his plot in Greenmount Cemetery by former Headmaster Doc Lamborn. Read more here.
