ELIAS DERBY

January 10, 1766 (age 60)

Salem, Massachusetts, United States

In November 1787 Derby sailed in the Grand Turk for the Isle of France (Mauritius), which had been opened to American commerce in 1784, and did not get back to Salem until December 31, 1790 - During these three years he also visited Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta and established the Derby firm as the dominant American commercial house on the Isle of France. These activities are said to have added $100, 000—a large sum for the time—to the Derby fortune. On July 14, 1799, he sailed from Salem in the Mount Vernon, a new ship of 355 tons and armed with twenty guns, for the Mediterranean. The Napoleonic Wars made the certain hazards and the possible profits of this voyage triply great. The Mount Vernon had several brushes with the French but was able either to outsail or to out- shoot them. She captured a large latineer off Algeciras Point but was unable to bring her to port. At Naples Derby was entertained by Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton. This voyage added another $100, 000 to the Derby fortune, but before Elias Hasket Derby, Jr. , reached Salem, July 7, 1800, the head of the house was dead. A voyage to Rio de Janeiro and London in the Mount Hope, but this venture was a failure. He then moved to Londonderry, New Hampshire. He was the first to bring merino sheep to America in any number. During the War of 1812 he manufactured broadcloth.

ELIAS HASKET DERBY

Edit Profile

merchant

Background

Elias Hasket Derby was born on January 10, 1766 in Salem, Massachusetts, United States. He was the third child and eldest son of Elias Hasket Derby, the famous Salem merchant, by his wife, Elizabeth Crowninshield.

Education

A year or two at Harvard was the least part of his education, which in other respects was the counterpart of that given to all the Derby apprentices: several years in the counting-house thorough instruction in navigation under old Capt. Jonathan Archer, several voyages as captain’s clerk, and finally a voyage to the West Indies as supercargo of the brig Rose.

Career

In November 1787 Derby sailed in the Grand Turk for the Isle of France (Mauritius), which had been opened to American commerce in 1784, and did not get back to Salem until December 31, 1790 - During these three years he also visited Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta and established the Derby firm as the dominant American commercial house on the Isle of France.

These activities are said to have added $100, 000—a large sum for the time—to the Derby fortune. On July 14, 1799, he sailed from Salem in the Mount Vernon, a new ship of 355 tons and armed with twenty guns, for the Mediterranean. The Napoleonic Wars made the certain hazards and the possible profits of this voyage triply great. The Mount Vernon had several brushes with the French but was able either to outsail or to out- shoot them. She captured a large latineer off Algeciras Point but was unable to bring her to port.

At Naples Derby was entertained by Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton. This voyage added another $100, 000 to the Derby fortune, but before Elias Hasket Derby, Jr. , reached Salem, July 7, 1800, the head of the house was dead.

A voyage to Rio de Janeiro and London in the Mount Hope, but this venture was a failure.

He then moved to Londonderry, New Hampshire. He was the first to bring merino sheep to America in any number. During the War of 1812 he manufactured broadcloth.

Achievements

Derby established the Derby firm as the dominant American commercial house on the Isle of France.

Connections

Derby's wife, Lucy Brown, who had borne him four daughters and five sons, survived him.

Father:: Elias Hasket Derby
Mother:: Elizabeth Crowninshield
Wife:: Lucy Brown

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Connections

Connections

ELIAS HASKET DERBY

Background

Education

Career

Achievements

Connections

Born

Died

Resting place

Nationality