Preserved Fish
Encyclopedia
Preserved Fish was a prominent New York City shipping merchant in the early 19th century. He served as president of the Bank of America, which was unrelated to the current institution of that name, and an early broker of the New York Stock & Exchange Board. He was one of the leaders in the movement opposed to sabbatarianism
in the United States.
His first name was properly pronounced with three syllables ("pre-SER-vedd"), and was a reference to being "preserved from sin" or "preserved in grace". His family, prominent in New York, also gave rise to Hamilton Fish
, governor, senator, and secretary of state, and Stuyvesant Fish
.
Preserved Fish was born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island
, the son of a blacksmith who was also named Preserved Fish. The blacksmith's father was Preserved Fish as well, but that Fish's father was named Thomas. As a youth, the younger Preserved Fish shipped to the Pacific on a whaler, becoming its captain at the age of 21. He did not take long to realize that a fortune lay in selling whale oil
, not in getting it. He prospered as a merchant in New Bedford, Massachusetts
, but had a political squabble and left for New York. He controlled a potent shipping firm named Fish & Grinnell – later became Grinnell, Minturn & Co
– which had its beginnings in his efforts to expand his whale oil market. In 1812, he became a director of Bank of America, founded after the charter of the First Bank of the United States
was not renewed. He also was one of the 28 brokers of the New York Exchange Board, which later became the New York Stock Exchange
.
After his resignation from Fish & Grinnell and a brief retirement from business, he served until his death as President of the Tradesman's Bank. He was also involved with Tammany Hall
: along with Gideon Lee
, another banker, his faction controlled the Democratic Party
in New York City at the time that the Loco Foco reformers attempted, unsuccessfully, to take it over.
He is buried in the New York City Marble Cemetery
.
Non-Sabbatarianism
Nonsabbatarianism is the affirmation of the religious liberty not to observe a weekly rest or worship day , usually in Christianity. While keepers of weekly days usually also believe in religious liberty, nonsabbatarians believe themselves particularly free to uphold Sabbath principles, or not,...
in the United States.
His first name was properly pronounced with three syllables ("pre-SER-vedd"), and was a reference to being "preserved from sin" or "preserved in grace". His family, prominent in New York, also gave rise to Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish
Hamilton Fish was an American statesman and politician who served as the 16th Governor of New York, United States Senator and United States Secretary of State. Fish has been considered one of the best Secretary of States in the United States history; known for his judiciousness and reform efforts...
, governor, senator, and secretary of state, and Stuyvesant Fish
Stuyvesant Fish
Stuyvesant Fish was president of the Illinois Central Railroad.Fish was born in New York City, the son of Hamilton Fish and his wife Julia Ursin Niemcewicz, née Kean. A graduate of Columbia College, he was later an executive of the Illinois Central Railroad, and as its president from 1887 to 1906...
.
Preserved Fish was born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,389 at the 2010 U.S. Census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. Most of its land area lies on Aquidneck...
, the son of a blacksmith who was also named Preserved Fish. The blacksmith's father was Preserved Fish as well, but that Fish's father was named Thomas. As a youth, the younger Preserved Fish shipped to the Pacific on a whaler, becoming its captain at the age of 21. He did not take long to realize that a fortune lay in selling whale oil
Whale oil
Whale oil is the oil obtained from the blubber of various species of whales, particularly the three species of right whale and the bowhead whale prior to the modern era, as well as several other species of baleen whale...
, not in getting it. He prospered as a merchant in New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, but had a political squabble and left for New York. He controlled a potent shipping firm named Fish & Grinnell – later became Grinnell, Minturn & Co
Grinnell, Minturn & Co
Grinnell, Minturn & Co. was one of the leading transatlantic shipping companies in the middle 19th century. It is probably best known today as being the owner and operator of the Flying Cloud, arguably the greatest of the clipper ships.-History:...
– which had its beginnings in his efforts to expand his whale oil market. In 1812, he became a director of Bank of America, founded after the charter of the First Bank of the United States
First Bank of the United States
The First Bank of the United States is a National Historic Landmark located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania within Independence National Historical Park.-Banking History:...
was not renewed. He also was one of the 28 brokers of the New York Exchange Board, which later became the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
.
After his resignation from Fish & Grinnell and a brief retirement from business, he served until his death as President of the Tradesman's Bank. He was also involved with Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
: along with Gideon Lee
Gideon Lee
Gideon Lee was an American politician who was Mayor of New York and United States Representative from New York.-Life:...
, another banker, his faction controlled the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in New York City at the time that the Loco Foco reformers attempted, unsuccessfully, to take it over.
He is buried in the New York City Marble Cemetery
New York City Marble Cemetery
The New York City Marble Cemetery is an historic cemetery founded in 1831, and located at 52-74 East Second Street between First and Second Avenues in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City...
.