Platt Rogers Spencer (also Platt R. Spencer) was born in East Fishkill, New York, on November 7, 1800, and died in Geneva, Ohio, on May 16, 1864. Spencer is credited as being the originator of Spencerian penmanship, a popular system of cursive handwriting.

Calligrapher and penmanship teacher, he designed the first copybooks for school use in 1848.

from:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platt_Rogers_Spencer
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?GRid=22556&page=gr