William Appleton

About

American businessman and politician who served as a United States Representative of Massachusetts from 1851 to 1855, and again from 1861 to 1862 before he resigned due to health complications. He passed away only months after tendering his resignation at the age of 75. He was a trader, shipowner, and banker, and he ran a shipping and commerce enterprise for 18 years with his son and business partner. He was an avid philanthropist known to make generous donations to worthy causes including the Massachusetts General Hospital, for which he formerly served as president.

Before Fame

He studied at schools in New Hampshire and Massachusetts until he began working at a local store at the age of 15. He was made partner of the store only three years later. However, he relocated to Boston the following year. He commenced his political career in 1850 and won several elections for the role of Massachusetts first district U.S. Representative as a Whig before being elected as a constitutional unionist in 1860.

Trivia

After moving to Boston, he purchased a ship and sailed to Europe multiple times to buy and sell goods. Once the War of 1812 was over, he expanded his business and purchased shares of the Suffolk Bank, making him one of the richest people in all of Boston at the time.

Family Life

He was the son of Reverend Joseph Appleton. He married Mary Ann Cutler in 1794. Together, they had nine children named William Sullivan, James Amory, Sarah Elizabeth, Francis Henry, William Joseph, Edward H., Harriet Cutler, Hetty Sullivan, and Charles Hook Appleton. He was the first cousin of U.S. Representative Nathan Appleton, as well as the first cousin of writer and artist Thomas Gold Appleton.

Associated With

He served during the political incumbency of President Millard Fillmore, who was also a member of the conservative Whig political party.