Coxe family.

In 1776 Tench Coxe began in the import-export business by joining his father's firm Coxe, Furman & Coxe. In 1780 he established his own house, entering into partnership in 1783 with Bostonian Nalbro Frazier. Coxe & Frazier was dissolved in 1790, after which government service became Tench Coxe's principal employment. A fervent supporter of the adoption of the Consitution, his increasing political involvement was especially concerned with patent legislation, funding of the national debt, the location of capital, and the effort to establish a National Manufactory. At first serving in the Federalist administration, Coxe was named Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, 1790-1792, and Commissioner of the Revenue, 1792-1797. His sympathies moving toward the Republican Party, he spent from 1797 to 1800 engaged in party political activities and personal business, chiefly land speculation in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia. By 1796 his personal finances were hopelessly complicated by debts and litigations from his own ventures and the bankruptcy of a partner Dr. Thomas Rushton. Nevertheless Coxe continued to retain and manage his property, from which his heirs would benefit greatly, until his death.

As a Republican, Coxe resumed his office-holding with his appointment as Secretary of the Land Office of PA, 1800-1801, Collector of Revenue for Philadelphia, 1801-02, Supervisor of Revenue of PA, 1802-1803, Purveyor of Public Supplies, 1803-1812, and Clerk of Court of Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia, 1815-1818.

Coxe is probably best known to both contemporaries and historians, as a writer. Throughout most of his life he published numerous pamphlets and contributed frequently to the press, writing on economic and political matters, foreign affairs, and sundry other subjects.