Arthur
Tappan was
born in Northampton, Massachusetts, on 22nd May, 1786. Tappan moved
to Boston at the age of 15 and by 1807 had established his own dry
goods business in Portland, Maine. He expanded his business investments
and a silk-importing firm based in New York was particularly successful.
With his brother, Lewis Tappan, he established
America's first commercial credit-rating service.
Tappan held strict moral views and contributed a large amount of his
wealth to campaign against alcohol and tobacco. He also helped fund
several anti-slavery journals and in
1831 helped establish America's first Anti-Slavery
Society in New York in 1831. When two years later it became a
national organization, Tappan was elected its first president.
Some members of the Anti-Slavery Society considered the organization
to be too radical. They objected to the attacks on the US Constitution
and the prominent role played by women in the society. In 1839, Arthur
and Lewis Tappan left and formed a rival
organization, the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. He also
backed the new anti-slavery Liberty Party.
After the passage of the Fugitive Slave
Law in 1850, Tappan became more radical. He declared he was now
willing to disobey the law and helped fund the Underground
Railroad. Arthur
Tappan died on 23rd July, 1865 in New Haven,
Connecticut.
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