John Welsh (1805 - 1886)

Born 9 Nov 1805 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 10 Apr 1886 at age 80 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

John Welsh was born in Philadelphia and was trained by his father to follow his steps as a merchant businessman. During his early years Welsh dealt dry goods and, in association with his brothers, went into the West Indies sugar business. He was very interested in public service and was part of the Philadelphia Select Council between 1855 and 1857. Welsh was also very interested in the development of Fairmount Park and was a member of the Fairmount Park Commission until his death in 1886. He took part in the funding efforts to build the Episcopal Hospital and was for many years vestryman in St. Peter’s Protestant Episcopal Church. His expertise in financial matters allowed him to have an influential role in the organization of the Sanitary Fair for war charities of 1864 and, most important, the management of the finances of the Centennial Exhibition. The success of this event held in Philadelphia in 1876 secured Welsh’s reputation nationally. As a token of appreciation for the success of the Centennial Exhibition, a group of Philadelphia citizens offered Welsh $50,000 for a public memorial; Welsh donated the money to the University of Pennsylvania to fund the establishment of a John Welsh Centennial Professorship.

In 1877 Welsh was appointed minister to Great Britain by President Rutherford Hayes; he spent two years in England after which he retired to Philadelphia. Welsh was married twice; first to Rebecca Miller, who died in 1832, and then to Mary Lowber in 1838. John Welsh was the father of Herbert Welsh, well known activist and founder of the Indian Rights Association. He was also the great-great uncle of John Foster Dulles, an American diplomat who served as United States Secretary of State from 1953 to 1959.

Sources

• http://www.pennock.ws/surnames/fam/fam27514.html

http://www2.hsp.org/collections/manuscripts/w/Welsh1529.html