Joseph Coolidge

Joseph Coolidge (October 30, 1798 – December 14, 1879) was an American merchant primarily involved in the opium, silk, porcelain, and tea trade during the 19th century. His career was primarily based overseas, where he worked with several trading companies in Asia. Coolidge was married to Ellen Wayles Randolph, the granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson.

Early Life:

Joseph Coolidge was born in Boston, Massachusetts, into the Coolidge family, an established family with roots dating back several generations. His parents were Joseph Coolidge and Elizabeth Bulfinch Coolidge. The family estate, known today as Coolidge House, was located at Bowdoin Square in Boston’s fashionable district. In 1817, Coolidge graduated from Harvard College, alongside notable classmates including George Bancroft, Caleb Cushing, and Samuel A. Eliot. Following his graduation, he embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe and obtained a master's degree through an International Baccalaureate program in 1820. During his time in Europe, he developed a friendship with Lord Byron, who referenced Coolidge in his journal in 1821. Coolidge returned to the United States in 1824.

Marriage and Family:

In early 1824, George Ticknor facilitated an introduction between Coolidge and prominent American families. He visited Monticello in the spring of that year and met Ellen Wayles Randolph, whom he married on May 27, 1825. The marriage took place at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s estate. After their wedding, Coolidge and his wife resided with his parents at Bowdoin Square. The couple had six children: two daughters and four sons. Their children included Ellen Randolph (1826–1894), who married Edmund Dwight; Joseph Randolph (1828–1925), who married Julia Gardner; and two twin sons, Anthon Sidney and Philip Sidney (both born in 1830), the latter of whom died during the Civil War. Their sons Thomas Jefferson (1831–1920) married Hetty Sullivan Applegate, and the youngest, George W. Randolph, also lived in the family.

Jefferson Family Relation:

Following the death of Thomas Jefferson, and amid the sale of Monticello, Martha Jefferson Randolph, Joseph Coolidge’s mother-in-law, temporarily moved in with the Coolidge family. Martha’s youngest son, George Wythe Randolph, also resided with them after Martha's return to Virginia in 1827. Coolidge recommended the publication of Jefferson’s manuscripts with Jared Sparks's assistance and reportedly disapproved of Thomas Mann Randolph, Martha Jefferson Randolph's former husband, advising his mother-in-law against reuniting with him.

Overseas Activities and Career:

Coolidge's professional career was characterized by involvement with multiple trading firms operating in Asia. He initially worked as a clerk before becoming a partner with Russell & Company by 1834, a firm that was a leading American importer of Indian opium. Around 1833, Coolidge was dispatched to Bombay and Calcutta to bolster supply sources of opium. By the mid-1830s, Russell & Company dominated the American trade in Chinese opium but experienced mismanagement issues leading to Coolidge’s departure from the firm due to conflicts with partner John Cleve Green. Subsequently, in 1839, Coolidge became an agent for Jardine, Matheson & Company in Canton. In 1840, he co-founded Augustine Heard & Company, serving as a resident partner. This firm operated as an agent for Jardine, Matheson & Company.

During the First Opium War (1839–1842), Coolidge engaged in profitable opium trading on behalf of the British, despite the international conflict and trade bans. Notably, during the attack on Canton in 1841, he was captured by a Chinese mob but was rescued after being identified as an American. The factory where he was detained was destroyed, and he filed a substantial claim for damages. He left Augustine Heard & Company in spring 1844 after disagreements with fellow partner George Dixwell.

Later Life and Death:

Ellen Coolidge passed away on April 30, 1879. Joseph Coolidge died later that year, on December 14, 1879, at his residence in Boston, Massachusetts.