Loper family

Biographical Notes

Nathaniel Brown Palmer

• 1799, Aug. 8: Born, Stonington, Conn.
• 1813: Shipped on coasters trading between New York and New England
• 1819: Second mate, brig Hersilia; commanded coasting schooner Gleaner
• 1820 - 1821 : Master, sloop Hero; discovered Antarctic continent
• 1822: Master, sloop James Monroe, sealing and exploring in Antarctic
• 1823 - 1828 : Master, brigs Cadet and Tampico
• 1826: Married Eliza Thompson Babcock (died 1872)
• 1829 - 1833 : Master, brig Annawan, sealing and exploring in South Seas
• 1833 - 1840 : Commanded packet ships out of New York, N.Y., to New Orleans, La., and Liverpool, England
• 1840s: Master, ships Houqua, Samuel Russell, Oriental, and Paul Jones; engaged in the China trade
• 1849: Retired from active sea duty; engaged in shipping business and pursued yachting interests
• 1853: Superintended the rebuilding of the ship Great Republic, which had burned on the eve of her maiden voyage
• 1870: Retired and traveled
• 1877, June 21: Died, San Francisco, Calif.

Alexander Smith Palmer

• 1806, Jan. 26: Born, Stonington, Conn.
• 1821: Sailed on brig Alabama, part of sealing fleet to Antarctic
• 1824 - 1826 : Mate on brigs Tampico and Cadet, master of Tampico on two voyages
• 1827 - 1830 : Commanded schooner Penguin, sealing in South Seas
• 1831 - 1833 : Commanded ship Charles Adams on whaling and sealing expedition to South Shetland and Falkland islands
• 1834 - 1838 : Master, packet ships Louisville and Shakespeare sailing between New York, N.Y., and New Orleans, La.
• 1837: Married Priscilla D. Dixon (died 1851)
• 1839 - 1845 : Master, packet ships Garrick and Southerner in Liverpool trade
• 1844 - 1846 : Master, clipper Houqua, New York, N.Y., to Canton, China
• 1847: Master, the Southerner, New York, N.Y., to Liverpool, England (last voyage); entered shipping business
• 1854 - 1857 : Operated fleet of tugs and barges on Mississippi River from New Orleans, La.
• 1858 - 1877 : Active in politics; elected town selectman, state representative, and state senator in Connecticut
• 1894, Oct. 22: Died, Stonington, Conn.

Richard Fanning Loper

• 1800, Feb. 3: Born, Stonington, Conn.
• 1810: Sailed on coasting trips and became master at age fifteen
• 1817 - 1819 : Commanded schooner Nancy Cobb
• 1820 - 1821 : Second mate on board sloop Hero during voyage of discovery in Antarctic
• 1821: Settled in Philadelphia, Pa.; started packet ship trade between that city and Hartford, Conn.
• 1826: Married Margaret Mercer Baird (died 1898)
• 1826 - 1831 : Master, schooners Alonzo and Maid
• 1840: Retired from active sea duty; began career in Philadelphia, Pa., as shipbuilder; continued to operate several coastwise shipping lines
• 1843: Agent, Delaware and Raritan Canal Co.
• 1844: Developed composite iron and wood shipbuilding methods; invented blade screw propeller
• 1846: Satisfied contract to build and deliver 150 surf type boats in thirty days for General Winfield Scott's Mexican campaign at Vera Cruz, Mexico
• 1848 - 1877 : President, Philadelphia Steam Propeller Co. and Swiftsure Transportation Co.
• 1849 - 1867 : President, Philadelphia and Hartford line of steamers
• 1855 - 1870 : Active, New York Yacht Club; built and raced several yachts
• 1856 - 1865 : President, Gloster Ferry Co.
• 1861 - 1862 : Outfitted and chartered ships for the War Department
• 1870: Returned to Stonington, Conn. First successful defender of the America's Cup in yacht Magic (formerly Madgie), New York Harbor, N.Y.
• 1880, Nov. 8: Died, New York, N.Y.

From the guide to the Palmer-Loper Family Papers, 1667-1994, (bulk 1790-1930), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)