Biography

Thomas Mott Osborne was born in Auburn, New York, the son of Eliza (Wright) and David Munson Osborne. Thomas enjoyed dramatic performance as a young man at Harvard College and was a patron of the arts throughout his life. He inherited his father's business interests after his death, though these held little appeal for him. Thomas married Agnes Devens in 1886 with whom he had four children. Osborne devoted himself to reform politics and practices, often disguising himself in costume to expose injustices, to advocate for safety measures, or to encourage efficiencies. In 1913, Osborne was appointed Chair of the New York State Commission on Prison Reform. He is most well-known for disguising himself within Auburn Prison where he recounted his own experiences and those of other inmates in his book, Within Prison Walls (1913). Osborne's recommendations for prison reform had a monumental impact on penal policy around the world.