Charles Fremont Dight

Charles Fremont Dight (1860–1938) was an American physician and eugenics advocate. He is best known for his efforts to promote eugenics in the state of Minnesota.

Early Life and Education

Charles Fremont Dight was born in 1860 in Ohio. He completed his medical studies at the University of Michigan and later moved to Minnesota where he established his medical practice.

Career

Dight practiced medicine in Minnesota for several years. He was also a faculty member at the University of Minnesota's medical school. In addition to his medical practice, Dight was a prominent advocate for eugenics, a movement that sought to improve the genetic quality of the human population through selective breeding.

Advocacy for Eugenics

In 1923, Dight founded the Minnesota Eugenics Society. He also served as the president of the organization. The society advocated for the sterilization of individuals deemed unfit for reproduction. Dight's advocacy for eugenics was influenced by his belief that many social problems were the result of hereditary defects.

Legacy

Dight's advocacy for eugenics has been the subject of controversy. While some view his work as a misguided attempt to improve society, others see it as a violation of individual rights. Despite the controversy, Dight's influence on the eugenics movement in Minnesota is undeniable.

See Also

• Eugenics
• History of eugenics
• University of Minnesota