Joseph Peabody
| Joseph Peabody | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
December 9, 1757 Middleton, Massachusetts |
| Died | January 5, 1844 (aged 86) Salem, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Merchant, Shipowner, Sailor |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine Smith, Elizabeth Smith |
| Children | Joseph Augustus Peabody, Francis Peabody, George Peabody, Catherine Endicott Peabody |
| Parent(s) | Francis Peabody and Margaret Knight |
Joseph Peabody (December 9, 1757 – January 5, 1844) was a merchant and shipowner who dominated trade between Massachusetts and the Far East for a number of years.
He was descended from Francis Peabody of St. Albans, England, in 1635. He was one of the first settlers of Topsfield, Massachusetts. During the American Revolutionary War he was an officer on privateers, and acted with credit as second officer of the letter of marque Ranger. He was captain of several merchant vessels, and his company built 83 ships. He became extremely wealthy and used that wealth for philanthropy.
Peabody was the wealthiest merchant-shipowner of Salem, Massachusetts between the embargo of 1807 and 1845.
His brig Leander 223 short tons (202 t) tons, built at Salem in 1821, made twenty-six voyages to Europe, Asia Minor, Africa, and the Far East in the twenty-three years of her life.
The ship George was 110 feet 10 inches (33.78 m) by 27 feet 10 inches (8.48 m) by 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 m), weighed 328 short tons (298 t), and was designed somewhat like a Baltimore Clipper model. Built at Salem for a privateer in 1814, she was purchased by Mr. Peabody for USD $5,250. It is said that she made Salem in forty-one days from the Cape of Good Hope in 1831. George made twenty-one round voyages from Salem to Calcutta between 1815 and 1837, with such regularity that she was called the "Salem Frigate." Salem vessels were always manned in part by local boys, but the George was a veritable training ship. No less than twenty-six mates and forty-five captains graduated from the forecastle of this floating bit of Essex County.
For several years Joseph Peabody competed in the China trade, and continued the famous pepper trade between Salem, Massachusetts and Sumatra.
...
Wikipedia