David Austin Sayre was a prominent silversmith, banker and educator. Sayre is best remembered as founder of Sayre Female Institute.

Early life and education

David Austin Sayre was born in Madison, New Jersey

Madison, New Jersey

Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....

 on March 12, 1793. Sayre spent his childhood in Madison where he apprenticed to a silversmith. Sayre move to Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...

in 1811 to finish his training.

Banking

In 1820 Sayre started a banking firm D. A. Sayre and Company because of the large amount of surplus silver deposited in his silversmith safe.

Educator

Sayre founded Transylvania Female Seminary in 1854 in a building on Mill Street. The school was renamed Sayre Female Institute in 1855 and moved to Limestone Street.