Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862

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Pennsylvania State Senator; U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania.

From the description of Letter and photograph of Samuel Breck, 1834, n.d. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 51298011

Samuel Breck was a Philadelphia merchant and was a member of the American Philosophical Society (elected 1838).

From the description of Historical sketch of the Continental bills of credit, from the year 1775 to 1781, with specimens thereof, 1840. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122364909

Samuel Breck was born on July 17, 1771, in Boston. Of English descent, he was the son of the wealthy and prominent Samuel Breck (1747-1809) and Hannah Andrews (1747-1830), and husband to Jean (Ross) Breck (b. 1773), the daughter of one of Philadelphia's most important merchants. Samuel and Jean had one daughter, Lucy (1807-1828). For thirty-eight years, he and his wife lived at the Sweetbriar Estate just outside of Philadelphia. A merchant by trade, Breck was also elected to the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, State Senate, and U.S. Congress, and was a dedicated observer of politics during his lifetime. He died in 1862 at the age of ninety-one.

From the description of Samuel Breck papers, 1795-1862. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 62096249

Samuel Breck was born on July 17, 1771 in Boston. In 1792, after attending school in France, Breck moved to Pennsylvania and settled in Philadelphia, where he engaged in business as a merchant. In 1795 he married Jean Ross; they had one daughter, Lucy, who died in 1828 at the age of 21. Breck served as corporal during the Whisky Rebellion and was a member of the State house of representatives from 1817 to 1820. He served in the State senate from 1832 to 1834. He was elected an Adams-Clay Federalist to the Eighteenth Congress in 1823 and served for two years. Breck was also involved with several organizations such as the Schuylkill Bank, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the American Philosophical Society, the Philadelphia Athenaeum, and the Pennsylvania Institute for the Instruction of the Blind. He withdrew from active business pursuits and lived in retirement until his death in 1862 in Philadelphia.

From the description of Diary of Samuel Breck, 1841-1846. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 744443321

Samuel Breck was a Philadelphia merchant and member of the American Philosophical Society.

From the description of Recollections of my acquaintance with deceased members of the American Philosophical Society, 1862. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 173465737

From the guide to the Recollections of my acquaintance with deceased members of the American Philosophical Society, 1862, 1862, (American Philosophical Society)

Born into wealthy family in Boston on the eve of the American Revolution and educated there and at the Royal Military School of Loreze, France, Samuel Breck (1771-1862) made his career as a merchant and politician. Unhappy with the high taxes in post-war Massachusetts, Breck's father relocated his family to Philadelphia in 1792, and Samuel soon planted roots there. On Christmas eve, 1795, he married Jean Ross, daughter of one of Philadelphia's most important merchants.

After serving as a corporal during the Whisky Rebellion in 1794, Breck took an increasingly active role in the civic and cultural life of the city. A major benefactor of the Library Company of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Athenaeum and a founder of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind, he took a particular interest in historical matters, becoming an officer of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania., and a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1838. He was also a prominent politician, serving in the State house of representatives in 1817-1820, the State senate in 1832-1834, and as Federalist in the U.S. Congress in 1823-1825. His brother Daniel, a jurist and banker, also served as a congressman.

Breck died in Philadelphia on August 31, 1862, and was interred in St. Peter's Churchyard.

From the guide to the Historical Sketch of the Continental Bills of Credit, from 1775 to 1781, with Specimens thereof, 1840, 1862, (American Philosophical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862. Historical sketch of the Continental bills of credit, from the year 1775 to 1781, with specimens thereof, 1840. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Union Canal Company of Pennsylvania. Records, 1837-1859. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Samuel Breck collection 1833-1877 1835, 1837-1839 Breck, Samuel collection William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Mifflin, John F. (John Fishbourne), 1759-1813. Receipt book, 1800-1813. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Library. Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862. Recollections of my acquaintance with deceased members of the American Philosophical Society, 1862. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn John F. (John Fishbourne) Mifflin receipt book, 1800-1813, 1800-1813 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862. Letter and photograph of Samuel Breck, 1834, n.d. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Schuylkill Permanent Bridge Company. Receipts, 1802-1827. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Isaac and I. Minis Hays papers, Circa 1820-1925 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Meredith family. Meredith family papers, 1756-1964, bulk 1772-1873. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Samuel Breck receipt to Simion Gratz, 1833 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862. Samuel Breck papers, 1795-1862. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IId, 1837-1844 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Recollections of my acquaintance with deceased members of the American Philosophical Society, 1862, 1862 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Peters, Richard, 1743-1828. Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1818-1819. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Nicholson, John, 1757-1800. Papers, 1772-1819 [microform]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Temple, Nelson, Lloyd, Vassall, and Borland family papers, 1611-1862 (bulk 1700-1831) Houghton Library
creatorOf Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862. Manuscript, 1850. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
referencedIn We, the people and Old Colony press : business records, 1830-1836. American Antiquarian Society
referencedIn Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874. Correspondence, 1829-1874 Houghton Library
referencedIn We, the People and Old Colony Press Co. Business records, 1830-1836. Gadsden Public Library
creatorOf Lillie family. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862. Letter to Nicholas Biddle, 1822. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Chambers, Gordon. Collection, 1792-1823. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Historical Sketch of the Continental Bills of Credit, from 1775 to 1781, with Specimens thereof, 1840, 1862 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIc, 1826-1836 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Morton, Samuel George, 1799-1851. Papers, 1819-1850. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Cope, Thomas P. (Thomas Pim), 1768-1854. Letterbooks, 1788-1853 [microform]. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Bank of the United States (1791-1811). Boston Branch (Boston, Mass.). Bank of the United States (1791-1811). : Boston Branch (Boston, Mass.) records, 1792-1794. Harvard Business School, Knowledge and Library Services/Baker Library
referencedIn Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844. Collection, 1781-1844 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Samuel George Morton Papers, 1819-1850 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Du Pont, Samuel Francis, 1803-1865. Papers, 1812-1865. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862. Letters to Isaac Wayne, 1824-1829. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Hays, Isaac, 1796-1879. Papers, ca. 1820s-1879. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884. Papers, 1555-1882 (bulk: 1833-1881) Houghton Library
creatorOf Breck, Samuel, 1771-1862. Diary of Samuel Breck, 1841-1846. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
Role Title Holding Repository
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associatedWith Hollingsworth, Henry, fl. 1834, person
associatedWith Holyoke, Edward Augustus, 1728-1829. person
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associatedWith Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert DuMotier, marquis de, 1757-1834. person
associatedWith La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, François-Alexandre-Frédéric, duc de, 1747-1827. person
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associatedWith Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. corporateBody
correspondedWith Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884 person
associatedWith Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851 person
associatedWith Raguet, Condy, 1784-1842. person
associatedWith Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796 person
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associatedWith Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864 person
associatedWith Schuylkill Bank (Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Schuylkill Permanent Bridge Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Scudder, Horace Elisha, 1838-1902 person
associatedWith Seybert, Adam, 1773-1825 person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stevens, Henry person
associatedWith St. John de Crèvecoeur, J. Hector, 1735-1813. person
associatedWith Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 person
correspondedWith Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874 person
associatedWith Swift & Breck corporateBody
associatedWith Talleyrand-Perigord, Charles Maurice person
associatedWith Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice de, family
associatedWith Talleyrand-Périgord, Charles Maurice de, prince de Bénévent, 1754-1838. person
associatedWith Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824 person
associatedWith Tyler, John, 1790-1862. person
associatedWith Union Canal Company of Pennsylvania. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress 1823-1824). House. corporateBody
associatedWith Volney, C. -F. (Contantin-François), 1857-1820 person
associatedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Waterton, Charles, 1782-1865 person
associatedWith Wayne, Anthony person
associatedWith Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. person
associatedWith We, the People and Old Colony Press Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Whitefield, George, 1714-1770. person
associatedWith Yzarn, Godfroi marquis de Valady, b. 1765. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Boston (Mass.)
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
United States
United States
New England
Washington (D.C.)
United States
United States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Subject
American Revolution
Business and Skilled Trades
Clothing and dress
Conjoined twins
Diplomats
Early National Politics
Etiquette
Gerrymandering
Grief and loss
Manners and customs
Merchants
Mesmerism
Money
Paper money
Paper money
Philadelphia History
Philanthropists
Physicians
Politicians
Politicians
Presidents
Scholars
Shakers
Statesmen
Yellow fever
Occupation
Diplomats
Physicians
Presidents
Scholars
Statesmen
Activity

Person

Birth 1771-07-17

Death 1862-08-31

Americans

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