Ralph C. Smedley, American educator, founded Toastmasters International (born 1878)

Ralph Chesnut Smedley was the founder of Toastmasters International, an international public speaking organization. He spent 60 years developing the Toastmasters concept from a series of unsuccessful local clubs to the successful organization that flourishes today. He was also a long time official with the YMCA and a pioneer of adult education and lifelong learning.

Toastmasters International (TI) is a US-headquartered nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping people develop communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.