Tappan, Lewis, 1788-1873

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1788
Death 1873
Americans,

Biographical notes:

Merchant and antislavery leader.

From the description of The papers of Lewis Tappan [microform], 1809-1903. (Washington State University). WorldCat record id: 29852969

Abolitionist from New York State; assisted the Amistad slaves; among the founders of the American Missionary Association in 1846, which began more than 100 anti-slavery Congregational churches throughout the Midwest, and after the American Civil War, founded numerous schools and colleges to aid in the education of freedmen.

From the description of Lewis Tappan scrapbooks, 1847-1860. (Moorland-Spingarn Resource Center). WorldCat record id: 727069401

Abolitionist, merchant, and publisher.

From the description of Lewis Tappan papers, 1809-1903 (bulk 1809-1872). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71061361

Lewis Tappan (1788-1873) was a merchant and abolitionist.

From the description of Scrapbooks, 1835-1858. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 191276833

American merchant and abolitionist.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Brooklyn, to Horace Greeley, 1867 Nov. 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270574547

Founder of Mercantile Agency (now Dun and Bradstreet), among the founders of New York Journal of Commerce, Amistad Committee, American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, American Missionary Association.

From the description of Collection. 1845-46. (Ascension Parish School). WorldCat record id: 20312276

Lewis Tappan (1788-1873) was an American abolitionist. He was the brother of Ohio Senator Benjamin Tappan and abolitionist Arthur Tappan. Sir James Ross (1800-1862) was a British naval officer and explorer.

From the guide to the Lewis Tappan Letter, 1844, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Biographical Note

1788, May 23 Born, Northhampton, Mass. 1813 Married Susan Aspinwall (died 1853) 1828 circa 1837 Partner with brother Arthur and credit manager, Arthur Tappan & Co., silk jobbers in New York, N.Y. 1828 1831 Owned and published Journal of Commerce, New York, N.Y. 1833 One of the founders of the New York Anti-Slavery Society and the American Anti-Slavery Society 1839 1841 Member of the committee that undertook to secure the freedom of the captives on the slave ship Amistad 1840 Founder and first treasurer, American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society 1841 1849 Established and operated the Mercantile Agency, the first commercial credit-rating agency in America, under the firm name of Lewis Tappan & Co. 1843 Attended General Anti-slavery Convention, London, England 1846 A founder of the American Missionary Association 1850, ca. Participated, after passage of the Fugitive Slave Law, in “underground railroad” activities 1854 Married Mrs. Sarah J. Davis 1855 Joined the American Abolition Society 1870 Published The Life of Arthur Tappan. New York: Hurd and Houghton 1873, June 21 Died, Brooklyn, N.Y.

From the guide to the Lewis Tappan Papers, 1809-1903, (bulk 1809-1872), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

1788 May 23 Born in Northampton, Ma., son of Benjamin and Sarah (Homes) Tappan. 1813 Sept. 7 First marriage to Susanna Aspinwall, union produced six children. 1823 1837 Merchant in various capacities. Enters into partnership with his brother Arthur. 1833 One of the founders of the New York Anti-Slavery Society. 1839 1841 Leader in the movement to secure the freedom of Joseph Cinque and the Amistad captives. 1840 With the split in the American Anti-Slavery Society, Tappan led the formation of the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society and served as its treasurer. 1841 1849 Established The Mercantil Agency as the first successful commercial credit rating agency in the country under the name Lewis Tappan and Co. 1843 Attended international Anti-Slavery convention in London at the suggestion of John Quincy Adams. 1846 Helped in the founding of the American Missionary Association and served as its treasurer. 1849 Retired from his enterprise to devote his life to humanitarian causes. 1854 Second marriage, to Mrs.-Sarah J. Davis. 1855 Resigned as Correspondence Secretary of the American and Foreign Anti-Slave Society to accept office in the more militant Abolition Society. 1873 June 21 Died in Brooklyn, New York.

From the guide to the Lewis Tappan Collection, 1847-1860, (Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University)

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Subjects:

  • Slavery
  • Slavery
  • Religion
  • Abolitionists
  • Abolitionists
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • African Americans
  • Antarctic
  • Antislavery movements
  • Antislavery movements
  • Blacks
  • Commerce
  • Credit bureaus
  • Credit ratings
  • Mende (African people)
  • Missions
  • Polar regions

Occupations:

  • Abolitionists
  • Abolitionists
  • Explorers
  • Merchants
  • Publisher

Places:

  • Texas (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Texas (as recorded)
  • Massachusetts (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • New York (State) (as recorded)
  • Texas (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Sierra Leone (as recorded)
  • New York (State) (as recorded)
  • Bouvet Island. (as recorded)

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