Nahum Capen

Background

Nahum Capen was born on April 1, 1804 at Canton, Massachussets, United States; the son of Andrew Capen (1757 - 1846) by his wife, Hannah Richards. He was descended from Bernard Capen (1562 - 1638) who came to this country in 1630 from Dorset, England.

Education

Nahum received the ordinary Latin school education of the day and at an early age showed evidence of precocity. He read widely in the classical authors, especially Plutarch, and at nineteen he rewrote Plutarch's Lives for popular consumption (not published). He was also attracted to the study of the sciences, and when eighteen became enamoured of Benjamin Franklin and set out to read everything that he had written. At this time he began to study medicine under his older brother Robert, but ill health caused him to abandon this calling.

Career

In 1825 Nahum entered the publishing house of March, Capen & Long as partner and there found ample opportunity for indulgence of his literary tastes. Soon afterward he became an aggressive protagonist of the copyright laws, making appeals to Congress and writing letters on the subject to Daniel Webster and to Henry Clay. He wrote papers on Free Trade as early as 1823, and in 1827 he published anonymously on the same subject several articles which were republished in the South.

During the visit of Spurzheim to the United States in 1832 Capen became the confidant and adviser of the distinguished visitor, later writing his life, and publishing his works (1833). After the death of Spurzheim, Capen organized the Boston Phrenological Society and became its secretary. The history of the early deliberations of this group was later described by Capen in a separate volume, Reminiscences of Dr. Spurzheim and George Combe (1881). In 1835-36 Capen spent a year abroad, where he visited hospitals, schools, asylums, and institutions for blind, deaf, dumb, and delinquent. On returning to America he did much to further the cause of popular education and was largely instrumental in securing the establishment of the State Board of Education of Massachusetts. In June 1857 he was appointed by President Buchanan postmaster of Boston, a position which he held until 1861.

His first book, The Republic of the United States of America, Its Duties to Itself Embracing also a Review of the Late War between the United States and Mexico, published anonymously in 1848, was dedicated to President James Buchanan. It is a semi-historical, semi-political work in praise of Buchanan's political activities. The History of Democracy in the United States was published in four parts in 1851-52, but was later withdrawn from sale, as the author contemplated a larger work, The History of Democracy: or Political Progress, Historically Illustrated, from the Earliest to the Latest Periods, only one volume of which was ever published (1874). This was a creditable and scholarly work of 677 pages, though marred by numerous dogmatic statements which reflect the limitations of the writer's early education.

Achievements

• He is said to have been the first postmaster in the country to introduce street letter-boxes and to work out a free delivery system.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The history of democracy: Or, Political progress, historically illustrated, from the earliest to the latest periods

    (This book, "The history of democracy or, Political progre...)

  • Phrenology in Connection with the Study of Physiognomy: To Which Is Prefixed a Biography of the Author by Nahum Capen

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

  • The Republic of the United States of America: Its Duties to Itself, and Its Responsible Relations to Other Countries. Embracing Also a Review of the Late War Between the United States and Mexico.

Connections

On October 14, 1830 he was married to Elizabeth Ann, daughter of William and Sarah (Rand) More.

Father:

Andrew Capen

Mother:

Hannah Richards

Wife:

Elizabeth Ann

References

• Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut, Vol. 4: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation (Classic Reprint)