Wigglesworth, Edward

Person

Dates

Existence: 1732 - 1794

Biography

Edward Wigglesworth (1732-1794; Harvard AB 1749) was a commission merchant in partnership with William Blair Townsend (1723-1778; Harvard AB 1741) in Boston before his appointment as the second Hollis Chair of Divinity at Harvard College in 1765.

Townsend & Wigglesworth specialized primarily in retail and commission sales of goods imported from England and the West Indies. The firm dissolved in 1758, and Wigglesworth himself withdrew from business in 1762, turning over collection of his accounts to Deacon Thomas Hill and his son Henry Hill. After the death of his father Edward Wigglesworth (approximately 1693-1765; Harvard AB 1710), the first Hollis professor, Wigglesworth was elected to succeed him. Wigglesworth also was elected to the Harvard Corporation in 1779 and served as acting president of the College in 1780-1781.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Edward Wigglesworth business records

FOUND IN: Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, Harvard Business School

Collection Identifier: Mss:766 1758-1765 W676

Overview:

Edward Wigglesworth was a commission merchant in partnership with William Blair Townsend in Boston before his appointment as the second Hollis Chair of Divinity at Harvard College in 1765. The Edward Wigglesworth business records, dated 1758-1773, consist of two daybooks and a ledger containing general store and commission sales and expenses related to the business of Townsend & Wigglesworth.

Records of the Harvard College Library: Borrowing privileges correspondence

FOUND IN: Harvard University Archives

Collection Identifier: UAIII 50.6.1

Overview:

This collection contains correspondence to the Harvard College librarian asking for book borrowing privileges, primarily from faculty and other individuals with a connection to the college, dated 1775 to circa 1826, and a 20th century dealer catalog entry for a 1764 letter related to donated volumes. The records include the borrower's name, the titles of the books borrowed, the date of loans, and in some cases, the return of books.

Precession of the Equinoxes. Edward Wigglesworth Digital

FOUND IN: Harvard University Archives / Collection: Mathematical theses, 1782-1839. / Classyear: Class of 1822

Item Identifier: HUC 8782.514, HUC 8782.514 (266)

Scope Note: At the time of their creation, the purpose of these documents was to demonstrate a student's mastery of one or more mathematical concepts by applying math to a problem in the real world. However, the enduring value of many of the theses lies in the fact that they are works of art.As a group, the theses demonstrate a change, in society at large, from the concerns of the late 18th century to those of the industrial revolution....