About Esther Frances How
Lived 1848 – 1915 (aged 67). Esther Frances How was a Canadian educator and teacher, known for Ontario.
Esther Frances How (January 29, 1848 – September 22, 1915), better known as Hester How, was a teacher who helped turn around delinquent boys in 19th-century Toronto.
How was born in Ireland in 1848 to Thomas Ferguson How and Catherine J. How and immigrated to Canada West in 1849. This helped establish her as an advocate for troubled youth. It also helped steer youth away from trouble, away from being handled in the adult court system, and toward a juvenile justice system.
The school she taught at was renamed after her in 1912, and she retired from teaching a year later.
How died in Toronto in 1915, and was buried in St. James Cemetery.
Legacy Beside Hester How Public School (former Elizabeth Street Public School now demolished and located in what is the east entrance of Hospital for Sick Children), a day care centre at Toronto City Hall (opened 1990) is named after her.
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Important facts
People in Esther Frances How's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Esther Frances How's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Esther Frances How?
Canadian teacher (1848-1915)
When was Esther Frances How born?
Esther Frances How was born on 29 January 1848 in Ireland.
When did Esther Frances How die?
Esther Frances How died on 22 September 1915 in Toronto.
What was Esther Frances How's occupation?
Esther Frances How was an educator and teacher.
What was Esther Frances How known for?
Esther Frances How was known for Ontario.
What nationality was Esther Frances How?
Esther Frances How was Canadian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Esther Frances How
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Esther Frances How. https://biography.guide/esther-frances-how/
MLA: "Esther Frances How." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/esther-frances-how/.
Chicago: "Esther Frances How." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/esther-frances-how/.
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