Thomas Edward Chickering
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward Chickering (born Boston, Massachusetts, October 22, 1824; died there, February 14, 1871) was a piano
manufacturer and soldier.
The Chickering and Sons piano manufacturing company was established by Thomas Chickering's father and was among the first and most celebrated piano manufacturers in the United States. Thomas took over administration of the firm from his father in 1853.
In 1862, Chickering became a colonel
during the American Civil War
, eventually being awarded the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general
.
, a notable piano manufacturer in Boston. Having established his firm in 1823, Jonas Chickering was among the earliest manufacturers of pianos in the United States and, by the 1830s, Chickering pianos were well-known throughout the country.
In 1845, at the age of 21, Thomas Chickering began working with his father in the family firm. He gained not only skills for designing pianos but also cultivated a talent for business and marketing.
Chickering married Caroline Battelle on September 8, 1847 and had at least one child, Lillian Chickering Prince, in 1849.
In December 1852, the firm suffered a setback when their factory burned. The Chickerings constructed a new factory on Tremont Street
in Boston in 1853. The same year, Jonas Chickering died and Thomas Chickering and his brothers took over management of the firm at which point the company became known as Chickering and Sons
. Thomas Chickering, as the eldest brother, became head of the firm's affairs.
Chickering had been interested in the military and commanded a company, the New England Guards, in the state militia. On September 15, 1862, Chickering was placed in command of the 41st Massachusetts Infantry
. The regiment
was deployed to New Orleans in November 1862 as part of Major General
Nathaniel Banks's
Louisiana expedition.
During the winter of 1862–1863, the 41st Massachusetts garrisoned Baton Rouge, Louisiana
without any significant incident. During April and May 1863, the 41st Massachusetts was part of an expedition to Opelousas, Louisiana
to forage for supplies and gather freed slaves by the thousands for recruitment into the Union Army
. Chickering was appointed military governor of Opelousas and commanded the Union troops (consisting of seven regiments of infantry
) that were part of the expedition.
In June 1863, as Chickering and the 41st Massachusetts prepared to join other troops of the Department of the Gulf in the Siege of Port Hudson
, the regiment was consolidated with three companies of Massachusetts cavalry
and became a mounted unit. The regiment was re-named the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry. The unit saw action in the Siege of Port Hudson and the Red River Campaign
. Chickering commanded this unit until September 1, 1864 when he resigned from the army.
For his service during the war, Chickering was awarded the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general, nominated February 21, 1866, confirmed April 10, 1866, to rank from March 13, 1865.
to much acclaim. For his accomplishments, Chickering was honored in Paris by the award of membership in the Légion d'honneur
.
Chickering died in Boston in 1871 at the age of 47.
. The firm also built a concert hall, Chickering Hall, in New York in 1875 which hosted concerts by accomplished musicians of the era. The "famous" hall, according to The New York Times, stood on the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 18th Street. It was designed by architect George B. Post
. The hall was torn down shortly after the firm sold the building in 1901.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
manufacturer and soldier.
The Chickering and Sons piano manufacturing company was established by Thomas Chickering's father and was among the first and most celebrated piano manufacturers in the United States. Thomas took over administration of the firm from his father in 1853.
In 1862, Chickering became a colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, eventually being awarded the honorary grade of brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
.
Early life
Chickering was the son of Jonas ChickeringJonas Chickering
Jonas Chickering was a piano manufacturer in Boston, Massachusetts.Jonas Chickering was born in Mason Village, and raised in nearby New Ipswich, New Hampshire where his father Abner Chickering kept a farm and worked as a blacksmith...
, a notable piano manufacturer in Boston. Having established his firm in 1823, Jonas Chickering was among the earliest manufacturers of pianos in the United States and, by the 1830s, Chickering pianos were well-known throughout the country.
In 1845, at the age of 21, Thomas Chickering began working with his father in the family firm. He gained not only skills for designing pianos but also cultivated a talent for business and marketing.
Chickering married Caroline Battelle on September 8, 1847 and had at least one child, Lillian Chickering Prince, in 1849.
In December 1852, the firm suffered a setback when their factory burned. The Chickerings constructed a new factory on Tremont Street
Tremont Street
Tremont Street is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts.-Etymology:The name is a variation of one of the original appellations of the city, "Trimountaine," a reference to a hill that formerly had three peaks. Beacon Hill, with its single peak, is all that remains of the Trimountain...
in Boston in 1853. The same year, Jonas Chickering died and Thomas Chickering and his brothers took over management of the firm at which point the company became known as Chickering and Sons
Chickering and Sons
Chickering and Sons was an American piano manufacturer located in Boston, known for producing award-winning instruments of superb quality and design. The company was founded in 1823 by Jonas Chickering and James Stewart, but the partnership dissolved four years later...
. Thomas Chickering, as the eldest brother, became head of the firm's affairs.
Civil War service
For several years before the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Chickering had been interested in the military and commanded a company, the New England Guards, in the state militia. On September 15, 1862, Chickering was placed in command of the 41st Massachusetts Infantry
41st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The 41st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-History:...
. The regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
was deployed to New Orleans in November 1862 as part of Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Nathaniel Banks's
Nathaniel Prentice Banks
Nathaniel Prentice Banks was an American politician and soldier, served as the 24th Governor of Massachusetts, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and as a Union general during the American Civil War....
Louisiana expedition.
During the winter of 1862–1863, the 41st Massachusetts garrisoned Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
without any significant incident. During April and May 1863, the 41st Massachusetts was part of an expedition to Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas, Louisiana
Opelousas is a city in and the parish seat of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies at the junction of Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 190. The population was 22,860 at the 2000 census. Although the 2006 population estimate was 23,222, a 2004 annexation should put the city's...
to forage for supplies and gather freed slaves by the thousands for recruitment into the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. Chickering was appointed military governor of Opelousas and commanded the Union troops (consisting of seven regiments of infantry
Infantry in the American Civil War
The Infantry in the American Civil War comprised foot-soldiers who fought primarily with small arms, and they carried the brunt of the fighting on battlefields across the United States. As the Civil War progressed, battlefield tactics soon changed in response to the new form of warfare being waged...
) that were part of the expedition.
In June 1863, as Chickering and the 41st Massachusetts prepared to join other troops of the Department of the Gulf in the Siege of Port Hudson
Siege of Port Hudson
The Siege of Port Hudson occurred from May 22 to July 9, 1863, when Union Army troops assaulted and then surrounded the Mississippi River town of Port Hudson, Louisiana, during the American Civil War....
, the regiment was consolidated with three companies of Massachusetts cavalry
Cavalry in the American Civil War
Cavalry in the American Civil War was a branch of army service in a process of transition. It suffered from emerging technology threats, difficult logistics, and sometimes misguided or inept commanders...
and became a mounted unit. The regiment was re-named the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry. The unit saw action in the Siege of Port Hudson and the Red River Campaign
Red River Campaign
The Red River Campaign or Red River Expedition consisted of a series of battles fought along the Red River in Louisiana during the American Civil War from March 10 to May 22, 1864. The campaign was a Union initiative, fought between approximately 30,000 Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen....
. Chickering commanded this unit until September 1, 1864 when he resigned from the army.
For his service during the war, Chickering was awarded the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general, nominated February 21, 1866, confirmed April 10, 1866, to rank from March 13, 1865.
Post-war life
Following the war, Chickering returned to his career as senior partner of Chickering and Sons. The company continued to expand its reputation through new designs and patents. Chickering pianos were exhibited at the 1867 World Exposition in ParisExposition Universelle (1867)
The Exposition Universelle of 1867 was a World Exposition held in Paris, France, in 1867.-Conception:In 1864, Emperor Napoleon III decreed that an international exposition should be held in Paris in 1867. A commission was appointed with Prince Jerome Napoleon as president, under whose direction...
to much acclaim. For his accomplishments, Chickering was honored in Paris by the award of membership in the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.
Chickering died in Boston in 1871 at the age of 47.
Legacy
The Chickering and Sons piano company, under the management of Thomas Chickering's younger brother, Frank Chickering, further increased their prestige after opening a showroom in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The firm also built a concert hall, Chickering Hall, in New York in 1875 which hosted concerts by accomplished musicians of the era. The "famous" hall, according to The New York Times, stood on the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 18th Street. It was designed by architect George B. Post
George B. Post
George Browne Post was an American architect trained in the Beaux-Arts tradition.-Biography:Post was a student of Richard Morris Hunt , but unlike many architects of his generation, he had previously received a degree in civil engineering...
. The hall was torn down shortly after the firm sold the building in 1901.
See also
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War