Abiel Abbot Low
Encyclopedia
Abiel Abbot Low was an American
entrepreneur, businessman, trader and philanthropist who gained most of his fortune from the China trade
, importing teas, porcelains, and silk, and building and operating a fleet of reputable clipper ships
.
, drug merchant, Seth Low. Abiel grew up attending public schools, and became a clerk in the house of Joseph Howard & Company, a company engaged in the South American trade, and moved to New York
with his family in 1829. There, Seth Low’s pharmaceutical business flourished, importing drugs and India goods.
, China
, and started working as a clerk for the mercantile house of Russell & Company
, the largest American firm in China, founded by Samuel Russell
, and of which Low’s uncle, William Henry Low
, had been head for some years. In 1837, after four years of learning the intricacies of trading in China, Low became a partner in the firm. In 1840, he launched his own business in a joint venture with Wu Bingjian, also known as Howqua
, a mentor for young Americans in China, a very important Hong merchant, head of the Canton Cohong
and one of the richest men in China. The company, A. A. Low & Brother named for both he and his brother, Josiah Orne Low, rapidly became one of the leading China and Japan
silks and teas trading company.
historic area. The firm was situated at its Burling Slip building from 1850 to after the turn of the century.
Low launched his own fleet of clippers, among which were the Houqua
, the first streamlined ship, named after his Chinese business partner who had died in 1843, and the Samuel Russell, named after the founder of the mercantile company in which Low had worked as a clerk. Two other of Low’s clippers, the Contest and the Jacob Bell, were subsequently destroyed by Confederate privateers during the Civil War.
Low was known for his business astuteness and shrewdness. He is said to have instructed his captains in China to wait and let competitors purchase the first tea pickings, and to purchase the following tea pickings at a lower price. Because of the speed of his clippers, he still managed to reach New York before his competitors.
, of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
through West Virginia
together with Collis P. Huntington
and others, and of Newport News, Virginia
, and Huntington, West Virginia
. Low was made a member of the New York chamber of commerce
in 1846, and was elected as its president in 1863. He held the office until 1866 when he resigned and embarked on a voyage around the world. During his tenure, he spoke out on behalf of New York businessmen against British support to Confederate
commerce destroyers.
Low never pursued an active political career, unlike his father, who had become mayor of the village of Brooklyn, or son, Seth Low
, who later became the mayor of Greater New York. However, Low did accept nominations as a consultant and advisor to local trade and governmental authorities regarding trade and commercial interests. During the Civil War
, he was active within the Union Defense Committee of New York, a member of the War Fund Committee of Brooklyn, and president of the General Committee of Citizens in Brooklyn, appointed in aid of the sanitary service.
He is also known for his philanthropy activities. In 1858, he became president of the Brooklyn Female Academy, later the Packer Collegiate Institute
, and remained on the Packer board until his death in 1893. He was known to give bonuses to teachers and anonymous scholarships to deserving students. He also contributed to the development of the Brooklyn Library, the City hospital and many other cultural, educational, social and religious enterprises.
The Low Memorial Library
, administrative center of Columbia University
, was built in his memory by his son, Seth, in 1895.
He died in Brooklyn on January 7, 1893.
Low married Ellen Almira, daughter of Josiah Dow of Brooklyn on March 16, 1841, and had two sons and two daughters from this marriage: Harriette Low (October 24, 1842–1884), Abbot Augustus Low
(May 12, 1844–1912), inventor (notably of the paper shredder
), businessman and industrialist, Ellen Low (June 30, 1846–1884), and Seth Low
(January 18, 1850 – September 17, 1916) who later became mayor of New York and president of Columbia University.
Upon the death of his wife in 1850, Low married Anne Davison Low, widow of Low’s brother William Henry Low. Another brother, Charles Porter Low, served as captain on the Houqua
, Jacob Bell, Samuel Russell, and N.B. Palmer
.
In 1894, Low's sons Abbot Augustus and Seth, built a hospital in Wu-Chang, China
in memory of their father.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur, businessman, trader and philanthropist who gained most of his fortune from the China trade
Old China Trade
The Old China Trade was the name given to the early commerce between the Qing Empire and the United States under the Canton System, spanning from shortly after the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783 to the Treaty of Wanghsia in 1844...
, importing teas, porcelains, and silk, and building and operating a fleet of reputable clipper ships
Clipper ships
At the 'crest of the clipper wave' year of 1852, there were 200 clippers rounding Cape Horn.Notable examples of the clipper ship include:* Archibald Russell, 1905, a steel-hulled 4-masted barque, 291.3 ft. x 43 ft. x 24 ft., built by Scott Shipbuilding and Engineering Co of Greenock...
.
Early life
Abiel Abbot Low was one of twelve children (eight sons, four daughters) of a Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, drug merchant, Seth Low. Abiel grew up attending public schools, and became a clerk in the house of Joseph Howard & Company, a company engaged in the South American trade, and moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with his family in 1829. There, Seth Low’s pharmaceutical business flourished, importing drugs and India goods.
China
In 1833, Low sailed to CantonGuangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and started working as a clerk for the mercantile house of Russell & Company
Russell & Company
Russell & Company was the largest and most important American trading house in China from 1842 to its closing in 1891.Samuel Russell founded Russell & Company in Canton, China, in 1824. Dealing mostly in silks, teas and opium, Russell & Company prospered, and by 1842, it had become the largest...
, the largest American firm in China, founded by Samuel Russell
Samuel Russell
Samuel Wadsworth Russell, born in Middletown, Connecticut , was an American entrepreneur and trader, and founder of Russell & Company, the largest and most important American trading house in China from 1842 to its closing in 1891.- Early life :Orphaned at the age of 12, Russell did not receive any...
, and of which Low’s uncle, William Henry Low
William Henry Low
William Henry Low was an American entrepreneur, businessman and trader from Salem, Massachusetts, who was one of the American pioneers of the Old China Trade. In 1828, having settled in Canton, China, Low was admitted as a partner of the Russell & Co. trading company, as a replacement chosen by...
, had been head for some years. In 1837, after four years of learning the intricacies of trading in China, Low became a partner in the firm. In 1840, he launched his own business in a joint venture with Wu Bingjian, also known as Howqua
Howqua
Howqua was the most important of the Hong merchants in the Thirteen Factories, head of the E-wo hong and leader of the Canton Cohong–Gong1 hong2 . He was once one of the richest men in the world.-Biography:...
, a mentor for young Americans in China, a very important Hong merchant, head of the Canton Cohong
Cohong
The Cohong, often spelled as kehang or gonghang, was the Chinese import-export monopoly in Guangzhou during the Qing dynasty...
and one of the richest men in China. The company, A. A. Low & Brother named for both he and his brother, Josiah Orne Low, rapidly became one of the leading China and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
silks and teas trading company.
New York
Having made his fortune in China and shortly after the launch of his business, Low returned to New York. There, he set up his New York headquarters on Fletcher Street, in a building shared with his father’s business. In 1849-1850, Low erected the A. A. Low building at 167–171 John Street, now part of the historic South Street SeaportSouth Street Seaport
The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District...
historic area. The firm was situated at its Burling Slip building from 1850 to after the turn of the century.
Low launched his own fleet of clippers, among which were the Houqua
Houqua (clipper)
The Houqua was an early clipper ship with an innovative hull design, built for A.A. Low & Brother in 1844. She sailed in the China trade.-Name:...
, the first streamlined ship, named after his Chinese business partner who had died in 1843, and the Samuel Russell, named after the founder of the mercantile company in which Low had worked as a clerk. Two other of Low’s clippers, the Contest and the Jacob Bell, were subsequently destroyed by Confederate privateers during the Civil War.
Low was known for his business astuteness and shrewdness. He is said to have instructed his captains in China to wait and let competitors purchase the first tea pickings, and to purchase the following tea pickings at a lower price. Because of the speed of his clippers, he still managed to reach New York before his competitors.
Later life
Once firmly settled in New York, Low invested in other ventures, participating in the financing of the first Atlantic cable, of the Nickle Plate RailroadNew York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad , abbreviated NYC&St.L, was a railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. Commonly referred to as the Nickel Plate Road, the railroad served a large area, including trackage in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
, of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P...
through West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
together with Collis P. Huntington
Collis P. Huntington
Collis Potter Huntington was one of the Big Four of western railroading who built the Central Pacific Railroad as part of the first U.S. transcontinental railroad...
and others, and of Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, and Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
. Low was made a member of the New York chamber of commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
in 1846, and was elected as its president in 1863. He held the office until 1866 when he resigned and embarked on a voyage around the world. During his tenure, he spoke out on behalf of New York businessmen against British support to Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
commerce destroyers.
Low never pursued an active political career, unlike his father, who had become mayor of the village of Brooklyn, or son, Seth Low
Seth Low
Seth Low , born in Brooklyn, New York, was an American educator and political figure who served as mayor of Brooklyn, as President of Columbia University, as diplomatic representative of the United States, and as Mayor of New York City...
, who later became the mayor of Greater New York. However, Low did accept nominations as a consultant and advisor to local trade and governmental authorities regarding trade and commercial interests. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he was active within the Union Defense Committee of New York, a member of the War Fund Committee of Brooklyn, and president of the General Committee of Citizens in Brooklyn, appointed in aid of the sanitary service.
He is also known for his philanthropy activities. In 1858, he became president of the Brooklyn Female Academy, later the Packer Collegiate Institute
Packer Collegiate Institute
Packer Collegiate Institute is an independent college preparatory school for students from prekindergarten through grade 12. Formerly the Brooklyn Female Academy, Packer has been located at 170 Joralemon Street in the historic district of Brooklyn Heights since its founding in 1845.- History :A...
, and remained on the Packer board until his death in 1893. He was known to give bonuses to teachers and anonymous scholarships to deserving students. He also contributed to the development of the Brooklyn Library, the City hospital and many other cultural, educational, social and religious enterprises.
The Low Memorial Library
Low Memorial Library
The Low Memorial Library is the administrative center of Columbia University. Built in 1895 by University President Seth Low in memory of his father, Abiel Abbot Low, and financed with $1 million of Low's own money due to the recalcitrance of university alumni, it is the focal point and most...
, administrative center of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, was built in his memory by his son, Seth, in 1895.
He died in Brooklyn on January 7, 1893.
Family
Abiel Abbot Low was the son of Seth and Mary Porter Low, grandson of David and Hannah Haskell Low, great grandson of David and Abigail Choate Low.Low married Ellen Almira, daughter of Josiah Dow of Brooklyn on March 16, 1841, and had two sons and two daughters from this marriage: Harriette Low (October 24, 1842–1884), Abbot Augustus Low
Abbot Augustus Low
Abbot Augustus Low was an entrepreneur and inventor from Brooklyn, who lived in St. Lawrence County, New York and was the owner of the Horseshoe Forestry Company...
(May 12, 1844–1912), inventor (notably of the paper shredder
Paper shredder
A paper shredder is a mechanical device used to cut paper into chad, typically either strips or fine particles. Government organizations, businesses, and private individuals use shredders to destroy private, confidential, or otherwise sensitive documents...
), businessman and industrialist, Ellen Low (June 30, 1846–1884), and Seth Low
Seth Low
Seth Low , born in Brooklyn, New York, was an American educator and political figure who served as mayor of Brooklyn, as President of Columbia University, as diplomatic representative of the United States, and as Mayor of New York City...
(January 18, 1850 – September 17, 1916) who later became mayor of New York and president of Columbia University.
Upon the death of his wife in 1850, Low married Anne Davison Low, widow of Low’s brother William Henry Low. Another brother, Charles Porter Low, served as captain on the Houqua
Houqua (clipper)
The Houqua was an early clipper ship with an innovative hull design, built for A.A. Low & Brother in 1844. She sailed in the China trade.-Name:...
, Jacob Bell, Samuel Russell, and N.B. Palmer
N.B. Palmer (clipper)
The N.B. Palmer was a clipper ship owned by A.A. Low & Brother which was active in the China trade.One report states that the N.B. Palmer was "the first clipper ship out of New York to China."...
.
In 1894, Low's sons Abbot Augustus and Seth, built a hospital in Wu-Chang, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in memory of their father.
See also
- Kay MoorKay MoorKay Moor, also known as Kaymoor, is the site of an abandoned coal mine, coal processing plant and company town near Fayetteville, West Virginia. The town site is located in the New River Gorge at Kaymoor Bottom . It is linked to the mine portal above on Sewell Bench in the wall of the Gorge by...
, a coal company townCompany townA company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
in West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
built for Low's Low Moor Iron Company, listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. - N.B. PalmerN.B. Palmer (clipper)The N.B. Palmer was a clipper ship owned by A.A. Low & Brother which was active in the China trade.One report states that the N.B. Palmer was "the first clipper ship out of New York to China."...
, A.A. Low & Brother clipper ship, which tied the record Shanghai-New York run of 89 days. - HouquaHouqua (clipper)The Houqua was an early clipper ship with an innovative hull design, built for A.A. Low & Brother in 1844. She sailed in the China trade.-Name:...
, A.A. Low & Brother clipper ship, named in honor of Howqua
Further reading
- A. L. Moffat, "Low Geneal.: The Descendants of Seth Low and Mary Porter" (1932), a copy of which is in the Lib. of Cong.; and the New York press of Sept. 18, 1916.
- Sven Beckert, “The Monied Metropolis: New York City and the Consolidation of the American Bourgeoisie, 1850-1896” (2003)
- Edwin G. Burrows and Mike Wallace, “Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898” (1998)
- William Gilman Low, "A.A. Low & Brothers' fleet of clipper ships", 2nd ed. (1922)
Online reading
- Brief biographical sketch of A.A. Low, by Laura Carter Holloway
External links
- Packer Collegiate Institute: Portraits on the Wall
- The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention & Innovation, at the Smithsonian, Repository details for Abbot Augustus Low Patent and Trademark Papers, 1900-1912
- Amy Heard, Letters from the Gilded Age
- Low’s clippers and the China Tea Trade
- Bingham James Forrest Lowe Low(e) Research notes
- J. L. Cranmer-Byng and Sir Lindsay T. Ride, Notes on Hunter’s Journal, in Journal of Occurrences at Canton, pp. 37-41, pdf format
- South Street Seaport A. A. Low Building