Frederick Law Olmsted was born in the thriving city of Hartford, Connecticut on April 26, 1822 to John and Charlotte Olmsted. Fred was the first child for thirty year old John and twenty one year old Charlotte. His parents named him after Jonathan Law, Charlotte’s adoptive father, and Frederick Olmsted, John’s deceased older brother. At the time of his birth there were only twenty four states and the city of Hartford had a population of approximately 7000 people. Frederick’s father was the co-owner of Olmsted and King Store which sold fabrics, such as silk and wool, imported from other countries. John Olmsted had received very little education, however as a seventh generation descendent of one of the city’s founders,
