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John Welsh

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Death: April 19, 1886 (80)
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Place of Burial: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Immediate Family:

Son of John Welsh and Jemima Welsh
Husband of Rebecca Bass Welsh and Mary Welsh
Father of Anna Maria Smith; Herbert Welsh; Elizabeth Twells Young; Alice Strawbridge and John Lober Welsh
Brother of Margaret Mary Dulles; Elizabeth Horner; William Welsh; Mary Welsh; Richard Welsh and 3 others

Managed by: Alice Zoe Marie Knapp
Last Updated:

About John Welsh

His ancestors were among the early Swedish and English settlers in America. His father, also named John Welsh, moved from the state of Delaware to Philadelphia in 1786, and soon became a prominent merchant in that city.[1] His father trained John and his brothers Samuel and William to mercantile life, and gradually introduced them to his business. John was the youngest, received a good preparatory education, including a classical course, but began the mercantile business, in which he was remarkably successful, at a very early age. He formed a partnership with his brothers, Samuel and William, and for more than half a century the firm of S. & W. Welsh, and later S. & J. Welsh, was among the leading commission houses in Philadelphia, and familiarly known all over the country. In addition to the cares of his large business, Welsh became interested in public affairs and in the charitable institutions of his native city. During the last twenty-five years of his life he was an influential leader in all the great movements having for their object the promotion of the public good of his community. He was a vestryman in St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church forty-two years, and was treasurer of the fund of that denomination for the support of the episcopate. Taking a very active interest in founding the Episcopal hospital, he made himself responsible for the entire building fund amounting to $331,000, of which he personally contributed $41,000. He was one of the founders and became president of an association which raised a fund for the benefit of merchants who met with reverses in business.

Portrait painted by his son, Herbert, from the collection of Andrew Imbrie Dayton In 1864 Mr. Welsh was chairman of the executive committee of the great sanitary fair held in Logan Square, Philadelphia, which raised $1,500,000 in money and supplies for the promotion of the health and comfort of soldiers and sailors in the United States Army and Navy. He distinguished himself as chairman of the board of finances of the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, which position he held from the time of the creation of the board by act of congress in 1873, until the adjustment of all the accounts in 1877. He comprehended its importance and possessed the insight to appreciate its moral and material significance. After the exhibition closed, the board of directors, in recognition of his services, voted him a gold medal, and a number of prominent persons presented him $50,000 as "a perpetual commemoration of the sincere gratitude of the citizens of Philadelphia." With this fund, he founded the John Welsh chair[2] of history and English literature in the University of Pennsylvania.[3] On October 30, 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed Welsh minister to England, which he held until his resignation, August 31, 1879. He was instrumental in securing the release of a number of Fenian prisoners. As the representative of the United States, he paid to the British government $5,500,000 awarded by the Halifax Fishery Commission.[4] Upon his return home, he passed the remainder of his life in retirement. For 20 years he was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and during that period contributed $80,000 to its endowment fund. He also gave $10,000 to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. He was made Knight-Commander of the Order of St. Olaf by the king of Sweden, and Commander of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan, and Grand Officer of the Order of Nizan Iftakan by the bey of Tunis. The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1878, and by Washington and Lee University in 1880. He died in Philadelphia April 19, 1886.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Welsh_(diplomat)

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John Welsh's Timeline

1805
November 9, 1805
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
1830
April 30, 1830
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
1840
December 4, 1840
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
1842
June 4, 1842
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
1848
July 24, 1848
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
1851
1851
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
1886
April 19, 1886
Age 80
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
????
Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States