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Peter Faneuil (1700-1743)
Peter Faneuil's father died when he was 18 and his wealthy
uncle, one Andrew Faneuil, a prominent merchant whose ships called
at ports around the Atlantic, adopted Peter.
When Andrew died
Peter inherited his uncle's fortune but only after agreeing to one
provision: like Andrew he had to remain a bachelor. Peter honored
his uncle's wishes naming one of his ships the "Jolly Bachelor"
and indeed he was, entertaining with lavish dinners nightly at his
stately home.
In 1742 he
donated the funds for the construction of Faneuil Hall. But only a
few months after the completion of this venerable building Faneuil
would live up to his ship's name, dying of "too much good living."
Jimmy’s
Tangents:
The vote to
accept Peter's offer to fund his central market passed with a vote
of 367-360 but only after Peter offers to also build a second
floor to house a town meeting hall
This
arrangement of town hall above and food market below inspired
Francis Hatch to write in 1958: "Here orators in ages past / Have
mounted their attacks / Undaunted by proximity / Of sausage on the
racks."
Brother
Benjamin, first in line for Uncle Andrew's fortune but forfeited
when he got married, inherited Peter's fortune, proving that
sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too.
The original
1742 grasshopper weathervane by Sheme Drowne still graces Faneuil
Hall
In 1974 the
grasshopper was stolen and eventually found five days later hidden
under flags in the building’s cupola but not before 28 other
previously stolen weathervanes were recovered by authorities.
The Boston
police officer that cracked the case? - The patriotically-named
Detective Paul Revere Carroll.
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