Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824

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Tench Coxe (May 22, 1755 – July 17, 1824) was an American political economist and a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1788–1789. He wrote under the pseudonym "A Pennsylvanian," and was known to his political enemies as "Mr. Facing Bothways."

Born in Philadelphia, Tench received his education in the Philadelphia schools and intended to study law, but his father determined to make him a merchant, and he was placed in the counting-house of Coxe & Furman, becoming a partner at the age of twenty-one. After Patriots took power, Coxe left Philadelphia for a few months, only to return when British General Howe occupied the city in September 1777. Coxe remained in Philadelphia after the British departed in 1778, and some Patriots accused him of having Royalist sympathies and of having served (briefly) in the British army. Coxe's trading successes during the period of British occupation lent considerable support to the charges, and he was arrested; although nothing came of the allegations and he was pardoned. The Pennsylvania militia records of 1780, 1787, and 1788 listed Coxe as a militia private.

Coxe became a Whig, and began a long political career. In 1786 he was sent to the Annapolis Convention, and in 1788 to the Continental Congress. Coxe next became a Federalist. A proponent of industrialization during the early years of the United States, Coxe co-authored the famous Report on Manufactures (1791) with Alexander Hamilton, providing much of the statistical data. He had been appointed Assistant Secretary of the Treasury on September 11, 1789 under Hamilton when Hamilton was Secretary of the Treasury, staying in that role until it was abolished on May 8, 1792. Coxe was then appointed revenue commissioner by President George Washington on June 30, 1792, and served until removed by President John Adams. He then turned Democratic-Republican, and in the canvass of 1800 published Adams' famous letter to him regarding Pinckney. For this, President Thomas Jefferson rewarded him by an appointment as purveyor of public supplies; he served from 1803 to 1812.

Coxe was a writer on political and economic subjects and a champion of tariffs to protect the new nation's growing industries. He wrote also on naval power, on encouragement of arts and manufactures, on the cost, trade, and manufacture of cotton, on the navigation act, and on arts and manufactures in the United States. He died in Philadelphia and is interred in Christ Church Burial Ground there.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Remsen, Henry, 1762-1843. Letter to the Rev. Jedediah Morse [manuscript] 1792 Jan. 2. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Papers of the Randolph family of Edgehill [manuscript] 1749(1790-1850)1886. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State James Madison National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to President George Washington National Archives at College Park
referencedIn North American Land Company ledger, 1795-1805, 1795-1805 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Dorothy Merriman Schall papers, 1686-1897 Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn New York Custom House Records, 1792-1896, 1802-1854 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Autograph File, C Houghton Library
referencedIn William Maclay Journals and Note, 1789-1791 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849. Papers, 1258-1947 (bulk 1780-1849). Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State James Madison National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Tench Coxe letters, 1782-1805 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Silvanus Walker National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Berlage, Mary Connally. Papers, 1887-1968. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn United States. Dept. of the Treasury. Records of the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, 1781-1803. Library of Congress
creatorOf Letter from Commissioner of Revenue Tench Coxe to Secretary of State Edmund Randolph National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 6 -- Letters to Franklin, 1781-1782 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. ALS : Philadelphia, to Jonathan Hudson, 1783 Sept. 23. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Dinwiddie, Emily Wayland, b. 1879. Genealogical charts of the Dinwiddie family [manuscript] 1913-1939, 1942. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter, 1893 November 27, Germantown, [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] to [Thomas] Pinckney, n.p. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Speculation Land Company. Speculation Land Company records, 1796-1909 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to B. Dandridge National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Van Cortlandt, Pierre, 1762-1848. Pierre Van Cortlandt correspondence, 1787-1845. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State James Madison National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Notices relating to military supplies, ca. 1808-1816. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Wetherill, Samuel, 1736-1816. Miscellaneous papers, 1775-1803. Hagley Museum & Library
contributorOf August THRU October 1790 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State Robert Smith National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. William Samuel Johnson personal, political and legal papers, 1658-1817. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 9 -- Letters to Franklin, 1787-1790 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Coates, Samuel, 1748-1830. Account and memoranda books, 1785-1830. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Harding, Charlotte Hanes, 1873-1951. Autographs collection, 1744-1928 Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Letter from Le Maigre to Tench Coxe National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. Autograph letter signed : to Richard Varick, mayor of New York, 1790 Sept. 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIb, 1807-1825 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. Invoice : to William Moore Smith, 1800 Jan 1. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Records of the U.S. Customs Service. 1745 - 1997. Correspondence National Archives at New York
creatorOf Letters Sent by Tench Coxe, Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1792 - 1807 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Charles Thomson Papers, 1765-1888, (bulk 1765-1818) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954,. The Longwood Manuscripts, 1438-1954. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Letter from Commissioner Tench Coxe to President George Washington National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Summary of the Value and Destination of the Exports of the United States for One Year Ending September 30, 1793 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. ALS : to Samuel M. Fox, [s.d.]. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Henry family. Papers, 1758-1909. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Wetherill, Samuel, 1736-1816. Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1775-1803, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. Invoice : to William Moore Smith, 1800 Jan 1. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Pierre Van Cortlandt correspondence, 1787-1845 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Wilkinson, James, 1757-1825. James Wilkinson : miscellaneous papers, 1786-1819. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State James Madison National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Frazier, Nalbro (Nalbrough), 1759-1811. Nalbro (Nalbrough) Frazier letter book, 1783-1799. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Hamilton, James, 1752-1819. James Hamilton collection, 1733-1899. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Supply Orders Issued and Requisitions Received, Tench Coxe National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Garrett historical manuscripts, 1642-1933. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Duvall, Gabriel, 1752-1844. Letter : Treasury Department, to Tench Coxe, Philadelphia, 1803 Aug. 20. Bryn Mawr College, Mariam Coffin Canaday Library
referencedIn Turner, Philip. Philip Turner Papers, 1751-1858, 1881 and undated. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Letters Sent, 1794 - 1796 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Coxe family mining papers (1774-1968). Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Le Ray de Chaumont, J. (James), 1760-1841. Letter, 1807 July 12, New York, [New York] to Thomas Jefferson, n.p. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State James Madison National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Letter from Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to President George Washington National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Samuel Coates account and memoranda books, 1785-1830, 1785-1830 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Caesar Rodney correspondence, 1749-1823. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Nicholson, John, 1757-1800. Papers, 1772-1819 [microform]. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State Edmund Randolph National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Letter from Billington and Bryan to Commissioner of Revenue Tench Coxe National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Campbell, John (John T.). Letter, 1776, May 8 : St. Croix, V.I. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Monroe, James, 1758-1831. Papers of James Monroe [manuscript], 1778-1831, n.d. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf United States Custom House (New York, N.Y.). New York Custom House Records, 1792-1896, bulk (1802-1854). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. Tench Coxe correspondence, 1786-1790. Library of Congress
creatorOf Receipt Book, Volume 1: Tench Coxe National Archives at Washington, D.C
creatorOf Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. ALS : Philadelphia, to John S. Skinner, 1821 Mar. 22. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Nalbro (Nalbrough) Frazier letter book, 1783-1799 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Coxe family. Papers, 1638-1897 (inclusive), 1776-1879 (bulk). Historical Society of Pennsylvania
contributorOf Correspondence of the Special Agent, 1867 - 1899 National Archives at New York
referencedIn Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817. Papers, 1757-1836. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Library. Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Madison, James, 1751-1836. Letter to Tench Coxe, 1804 May 8. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Thomas Jefferson manuscript material : 2 items, 1801-1816 New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954,. Acquisitions of Pierre S. du Pont, 1438-1921. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Carey, Mathew, 1760-1839. Letterbooks, 1788-1794. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Carey, Niles, Coxe letters, 1796-1833. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Victor, 1767-1827. Papers, 1753-1847. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Rodney, Caesar, 1728-1784. Correspondence, 1749-1823 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Tobias Lear National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Carter, Betty Lewis, 1765-1830. Washington family papers [manucript], 1773-1915. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Letter from Commissioner Tench Coxe to President George Washington National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Thomas Jefferson National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Logan, Robert Restalrig,. Collection, 1671-1863. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Joseph Johnson Letterbook, 1795-1810 The New York Public Library. Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle.
referencedIn Letter from John Worrall to Secretary of State Timothy Pickering National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Receipt Book, Volume 2: Tench Coxe National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 8 -- Letters to Franklin, 1783 December-1786 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Sophia Yarnal Jacobs Papers, 1861-1990. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Buckner, George. George Buckner collection, [ca. 1769]-[196-]. Mobil, Exploration & Producing United States, Incorporated
referencedIn University of North Carolina at Asheville. D. Hiden Ramsey Library. Special Collections. Speculation Lands Collection (1752-1930) [electronic resource]. University of North Carolina Asheville. Ramsey Library, Ramsey Library, UNCA
contributorOf Correspondence, 1792 - 1803 National Archives at College Park
contributorOf Note from Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to President George Washington National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Johnson, Joseph, 1738-1809. Joseph Johnson Letterbook, 1795-1810. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Beecher, Henry Ward, 1813-1887,. Autographs collection, 1682-1972. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn North American Land Company. Ledger, 1795-1805. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. Autograph letter signed : to G.W. Schaick, 1812 July 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Madison, James, 1751-1836. Papers of James Madison [manuscript], 1765-1836, n.d. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State Edmund Randolph National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State James Madison United States. National Archives and Records Administration
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Tilghman, William, 1756-1827. Correspondence, 1772-1827. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State James Madison National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824,. James Madison, Dolley Madison, and James Monroe letters, 1804-1840. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Papers of Joseph and William Whipple, 1717-1904 (inclusive), 1763-1814 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Carey, Niles, Coxe letters, 1796-1833. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn United States. District Court (Pennsylvania : Eastern District). Equity dockets and case files, 1790-1847 [microform]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Letter from Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to President George Washington National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Letters Sent to the Treasury Department, 6/22/1798 - 6/5/1821 National Archives at Washington, D.C
creatorOf Letter from I. Tench Coxe to John Jay National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Cox family. Weld Coxe collection, 1669-1982. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Letter from Tench Coxe to Secretary of State James Madison National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873 person
associatedWith Alexander Hamilton United States Custom House (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Banks, Joseph, Sir, 1743-1820 person
associatedWith Berlage, Mary Connally. person
memberOf British Army corporateBody
correspondedWith Buckner, George. person
associatedWith Butler-Gunsaulus Collection (University of Chicago. Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Campbell, John (John T.) person
associatedWith Carey, Mathew, 1760-1839. person
associatedWith Coates, Samuel, 1748-1830. person
associatedWith Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839 person
associatedWith Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899 person
associatedWith Coxe family. family
associatedWith Cox family. family
associatedWith Cuvier, Georges, Baron, 1769-1832 person
associatedWith Darlington, William, 1782-1863 person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954, person
associatedWith Du Pont, Victor, 1767-1827. person
associatedWith Duvall, Gabriel, 1752-1844. person
associatedWith Edison, Thomas A., (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931 person
associatedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 person
associatedWith Fitch, John person
associatedWith Ford collection corporateBody
associatedWith Fox, Samuel M., person
associatedWith Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 person
associatedWith Frazier, Nalbro (Nalbrough), 1759-1811. person
associatedWith Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849. person
associatedWith Genth, F. A., (Frederick Augustus), 1820-1893 person
associatedWith Gray, Asa, 1810-1888 person
associatedWith Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 person
associatedWith Hamilton, James, 1752-1819. person
associatedWith Harding, Charlotte, 1873-1951, person
associatedWith Harding, Warren G. person
associatedWith Henry family. family
associatedWith Hudson, Jonathan, person
associatedWith Huntington, Jedediah, 1743-1818 person
correspondedWith Jay, John, 1745-1829 person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Johnson, Joseph, 1738-1809. person
associatedWith Johnson, William Samuel, 1727-1819. person
associatedWith Le Ray de Chaumont, J. (James), 1760-1841. person
associatedWith Logan, Robert Restalrig, person
correspondedWith Maclay, William, 1737-1804. person
associatedWith Madison, James, 1751-1836. person
associatedWith Monroe, James, 1758-1831. person
associatedWith Newcomb, Simon person
associatedWith Newton, Isaac, Sir, 1642-1727 person
associatedWith Nicholson, John, 1757-1800. person
associatedWith North American Land Company. corporateBody
memberOf Pennsylvania. Militia corporateBody
associatedWith Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851 person
associatedWith Remsen, Henry, 1762-1843. person
associatedWith Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796 person
associatedWith Rodney, C. A. (Caesar Augustus), 1772-1824 person
associatedWith Rodney, Caesar, 1728-1784. person
associatedWith Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 person
associatedWith Schaick, G. W., person
associatedWith Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864 person
associatedWith Seybert, Adam, 1773-1825 person
associatedWith Skinner, John S. (John Stuart), 1788-1851, person
associatedWith Smith, William Moore, 1759-1821. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Speculation Land Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Stevens, Henry person
associatedWith Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 person
associatedWith Thomas Addis Emmet collection corporateBody
correspondedWith Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824. person
associatedWith Tilghman, William, 1756-1827. person
associatedWith Turner, Philip. person
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith United States Custom House (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
employeeOf United States. Department of the Treasury corporateBody
associatedWith United States. District Court (Pennsylvania : Eastern District). corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Lighthouse Service corporateBody
associatedWith Van Cortlandt, Pierre, 1721-1814 person
associatedWith Van Cortlandt, Pierre, 1762-1848. person
associatedWith Varick, Richard, 1753-1831, person
associatedWith Waterton, Charles, 1782-1865 person
associatedWith Wayne, Anthony person
associatedWith Wetherill, Samuel, 1736-1816. person
associatedWith Whipple, Joseph, 1738-1816 person
associatedWith Wilkinson, James, 1757-1825. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Philadelphia PA US
Philadelphia PA US
Subject
Internal revenue
Invoices
Lighthouses
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Economists
Federal Government Official
Merchants
Soldiers
Writers
Activity

Person

Birth 1755-05-22

Death 1824-07-17

Male

Americans,

Britons

English

Information

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