Edmund Quincy (1703-1788)
Encyclopedia
Edmund Quincy was a prominent Boston
merchant during much of the 18th century.
(now Quincy)
and Boston. He graduated from Harvard College
in 1722, and went into the commerce and shipbuilding business with his younger brother Josiah and brother-in-law Edward Jackson. In 1748, the Bethell, a merchant ship they owned, took out a letter of marque
to protect itself from Spanish privateers during King George's War
. Armed with fourteen guns and six fake wooden guns
, the Bethell accidentally came upon a much larger and more heavily armed Spanish ship at night in the Atlantic Ocean
. Unable to escape, the Bethell instead demanded that the Spanish ship surrender, and, mistaking the Bethell for a British sloop-of-war
, it complied without a fight. The Spanish ship's cargo, consisting of 161 chests of silver, 2 of gold, and various valuable commodities, was brought safely back to Boston and valued at around one hundred thousand pounds sterling.
Josiah Quincy retired shortly after this windfall, while Edmund remained in business, entering into a partnership with his sons. Though well-respected, he suffered financial reverses and was declared bankrupt in 1757. He later retired to his paternal estate
and, in 1765, published A Treatise on Hemp
Husbandry.
Quincy was also an acting magistrate
of Suffolk County
until the time of his death, and was referred to as "Squire" or "Justice" Quincy.
, who married John Hancock
; Esther Quincy, who married Jonathan Sewall
; and Elizabeth Quincy, who was the mother of Samuel Sewall
. After his first wife's death in 1769, Quincy married Anna Gerrish. Quincy was also a Freemason, and was a member of Master's Lodge along with Richard Gridley
.
Edmund Quincy died July 4, 1788, at the age of 85.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
merchant during much of the 18th century.
Early life and career
Edmund Quincy was one of four children born to Edmund Quincy and Dorothy Flynt Quincy of BraintreeBraintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
(now Quincy)
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
and Boston. He graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1722, and went into the commerce and shipbuilding business with his younger brother Josiah and brother-in-law Edward Jackson. In 1748, the Bethell, a merchant ship they owned, took out a letter of marque
Letter of marque
In the days of fighting sail, a Letter of Marque and Reprisal was a government licence authorizing a person to attack and capture enemy vessels, and bring them before admiralty courts for condemnation and sale...
to protect itself from Spanish privateers during King George's War
King George's War
King George's War is the name given to the operations in North America that formed part of the War of the Austrian Succession . It was the third of the four French and Indian Wars. It took place primarily in the British provinces of New York, Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and Nova Scotia...
. Armed with fourteen guns and six fake wooden guns
Quaker Gun
A Quaker Gun is a deception tactic that was commonly used in warfare during the 18th and 19th centuries. Although resembling an actual cannon, the Quaker Gun was simply a wooden log, usually painted black, used to deceive an enemy. Misleading the enemy as to the strength of an emplacement was an...
, the Bethell accidentally came upon a much larger and more heavily armed Spanish ship at night in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Unable to escape, the Bethell instead demanded that the Spanish ship surrender, and, mistaking the Bethell for a British sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
, it complied without a fight. The Spanish ship's cargo, consisting of 161 chests of silver, 2 of gold, and various valuable commodities, was brought safely back to Boston and valued at around one hundred thousand pounds sterling.
Josiah Quincy retired shortly after this windfall, while Edmund remained in business, entering into a partnership with his sons. Though well-respected, he suffered financial reverses and was declared bankrupt in 1757. He later retired to his paternal estate
Quincy Homestead
The Dorothy Quincy Homestead is a US National Historic Landmark in Quincy, Massachusetts. It was originally established by Edmund Quincy in 1686 as an extensive property upon which were built multiple homes...
and, in 1765, published A Treatise on Hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
Husbandry.
Quincy was also an acting magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
of Suffolk County
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County has no land border with Plymouth County to its southeast, but the two counties share a water boundary in the middle of Massachusetts Bay.-National protected areas:*Boston African American National Historic Site...
until the time of his death, and was referred to as "Squire" or "Justice" Quincy.
Family and personal life
Quincy married Elizabeth Wendell in 1725. Together they had nine children, including Dorothy QuincyDorothy Quincy
Dorothy Quincy Hancock Scott was an American hostess, the daughter of Justice Edmund Quincy of Braintree and Boston. Her aunt, also named Dorothy Quincy, was the subject of Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem Dorothy Q....
, who married John Hancock
John Hancock
John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
; Esther Quincy, who married Jonathan Sewall
Jonathan Sewall
Jonathan Sewall was the last British attorney general of Massachusetts.He was born in Boston on August 24, 1729 to Jonathan and Mary Sewall. Sewall's father was an unsuccessful merchant who died at a young age...
; and Elizabeth Quincy, who was the mother of Samuel Sewall
Samuel Sewall (congressman)
Samuel Sewall was an American lawyer and congressman. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts.After attending Dummer Charity School , Sewall graduated from Harvard College Samuel Sewall (December 11, 1757 – June 8, 1814) was an American lawyer and congressman. He was born in Boston,...
. After his first wife's death in 1769, Quincy married Anna Gerrish. Quincy was also a Freemason, and was a member of Master's Lodge along with Richard Gridley
Richard Gridley
Richard Gridley was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the son of Richard Gridley and Rebecca Scarborough. He was a soldier and engineer who served for the British Army during the French and Indian Wars and for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.He married Hannah Deming...
.
Edmund Quincy died July 4, 1788, at the age of 85.