Thomas Melvill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Melvill
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Portrait of Melville, ca. 1820s
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| Member of the Massachusetts State Legislature | |
| In office 1832 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | January 16, 1751 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | September 16, 1832 (aged 81) Boston, Massachusetts |
| Resting place | King's Chapel Burying Ground |
| Spouses |
Pricilla Scollay
(m. 1774; |
| Relations | Herman Melville (grandson) |
| Children | 11 |
| Parents | Allan Melvill Jean Cargill |
| Alma mater | College of New Jersey |
Thomas Melvill (born January 16, 1751, died September 16, 1832) was an important person in early American history. He was a merchant and a member of the Sons of Liberty, a group that fought for American freedom. Melvill also took part in the famous Boston Tea Party.
He served as a major in the American Revolutionary War. After the war, he became a longtime fireman in the Boston Fire Department. He was also a state legislator. Thomas Melvill is also known as the grandfather of the famous writer Herman Melville.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Melvill was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 16, 1751. His parents were Allan Melvill and Jean Cargill. Allan was a merchant who had moved from Scotland.
Sadly, Thomas became an orphan when he was only 10 years old. His grandmother, Mrs. Mary Cargill, raised him. He originally planned to become a minister. He went to the College of New Jersey, which is now called Princeton University. He graduated from Princeton in 1769.
In 1773, he received an honorary Master of Arts degree from Harvard College. Thomas Melvill was also a close friend of Samuel Adams, a key leader in the American Revolution.
Fighting for Freedom
Thomas Melvill was very active in Boston when people started to resist the British government. He was known for his strong spirit and bravery. He was part of the group that participated in the Boston Tea Party in December 1773. During this event, they boarded tea ships in Boston Harbor and threw the tea into the ocean. This was a major protest against British taxes.
In March 1776, the British fleet was forced to leave Boston Harbor. Captain Melvill fired the first shots at the British ships from his battery in Nantasket. He also served in the American Revolutionary War campaigns in Rhode Island in 1777 and 1779.
Life After the War
After the Revolutionary War, Thomas Melvill continued to serve his community. He worked as a naval officer for the Port of Boston from 1786 to 1820. He was also a Surveyor at the Boston Custom House. Customs houses were important places where officials collected taxes on goods coming into the country.
Melvill also served as a fireward (a fire official) from 1779 to 1825. For 25 years, he was the chairman of the fire board. He helped start the Massachusetts General Hospital in 1811. He was also president of the Massachusetts Charitable Society around 1825-1826. In 1832, he served as a member of the state legislature.
Melvill lived in an old wooden house in Boston's West End. In 1830, a famous writer named Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. wrote a poem called "The Last Leaf." This poem was partly inspired by Melvill, who was called "the last of the cocked hats." Holmes said Melvill reminded him of a withered leaf still clinging to its branch while new leaves grew around it.
His Final Years
When Major Melvill retired from the fire department, his fellow firemen gave him a silver pitcher. This was a gift to show their respect for his many years of service. Younger firemen even named an engine after him, called the "Melville Fire Association Engine, No. 13."
In September 1832, when he was 81 years old, a fire broke out near his home. Melvill helped by providing refreshments to the firemen. He opened his house to them. However, he caught a severe cold during the event, which led to an illness. He passed away on September 16, 1832.
The city mourned his death. Firemen showed their respect by attending his funeral. They also wore a special badge of mourning for 30 days.
Family Life
In 1774, Thomas Melvill married Priscilla Scollay (1755–1833). Priscilla was the daughter of a well-known Boston merchant, John Scollay. Thomas and Priscilla had 11 children together.
Some of their children included:
- Thomas Melvill (1776–1845)
- Mary Melvill (1778–1859), who married John De Wolf.
- Nancy Wroe Melvill (1780–1813)
- Allan Melville (1782–1832), who married Maria Gansevoort. Allan was the father of the famous writer Herman Melville.
- Priscilla Melvill (1784–1862)
His Portrait
A portrait of Thomas Melvill was painted by Francis Alexander in the 1780s. This portrait is now kept at the Bostonian Society. The Bostonian Society also has another portrait of him and a special tricorn hat. This hat is believed to have been worn by Major Melvill during the Boston Massacre.
Images for kids
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Advertisement for Allan & John Melvill, merchants, Boston, 1758. Allan Melvill was the father of Thomas Melvill
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Advertisement for Parker & Melvill, Cornhill, Boston, 1773
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Tea taken from the boots of Thomas Melvill, after the Boston Tea Party in 1773 (Old State House Museum, Boston)
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Portrait of Thomas Melvill, ca.1770s-1780s (Bostonian Society)
See also
In Spanish: Thomas Melvill para niños
