GoocU\in.] Oob [Dec. 16, 



had been educated for the Unitarian puli^it. Not finding in this his voca- 

 tion, he lived in Hallowell as a gentleman of retired leisure, or rather, of 

 great and varied and beneficent activity. The mother was a daughter 

 of Samuel Vaughan, Esq., a merchant of London. His brother, John 

 Vaughan, uncle of our Samuel Vaughan Merrick, was, for a long series of 

 years, identified v?ith this Society, as its Librarian and Secretary. He is 

 remembered v/ith affectionate respect for his genial social qualities, and 

 for his rare benevolence and kindness of heart. He cared tor the stranger. 

 Every foreigner, of whatever nationality, vrho chanced to be in Philadel- 

 phia, found in him more than the official consul of his country, — a sym- 

 pathizing friend. 



In his uncle's business house, our S. V. Merrick was placed at the age 

 of 15, to be trained as a wine merchant. At the age of 19, a proposition 

 was made to him to leave that business, and enter an opening which pre- 

 sented itself for the manufacture of machinery. This was to exchange 

 the profession of the merchant for that of the mechanic, — a step which 

 it is significant to observe was at that day regarded as involving little less 

 than social degradation. Young Merrick, in the full determination to 

 hew his own way in the world, accepted the offer, dofied his coat, and 

 rolled up his sleeves to the work. The firm of Merrick & Agnew was 

 established ; and soon gained unusual celebrity as manufacturers of im- 

 proved Fire-engines. Professors in New England colleges used to ex- 

 hibit these engines to their classes as illustrations in mechanics and speci- 

 mens of American ingenuity and workmanshij).* 



Young Merrick rapidly developed, under his own teaching, a remark- 

 able engineering and mechanical talent. 



After some years he was ready to enlarge his field of operations; the 

 " South wark Foundry" was established; the firm of "Merrick and 

 Towne" was founded in 1837, and entered into the general and extensive 

 manufacture of various kinds of machinery and apparatus, particularly of 

 steam engines and boilers. As an illustration of the energy and enterprise 

 of the firm may be mentioned the fact, that, at so early a period and in 

 the infancy of mechanical engineering in this country, they contracted 

 for and constructed the engines of the U. S. Steam frigate Mississippi, 

 which proved to be one of the speediest, safest, most trustworthy and 

 serviceable ships in the navy. It was cliiefiy due to the faithfulness, 

 skill, and perfect finish with which her machinery was constructed, that 

 abroad, as well as at home, she became an object of national pride. In her 

 Commodore Perry made his visit to Japan and rode out the cyclones of 

 the China sea ; and she continued high in the list for effective service, 

 until, on the night of the 14th of March, 1863, she ran aground and was 

 blown up under the guns of Port Hudson. 



In 1849 Mr. Towne retired from the firm, which was continued under the 



*Later In life, Mr. Merrick retained his early interest in the improvement of Fire Engines, al- 

 though they were no longer manufactured at his works; and for many years he took personally 

 an active and leading part in the Fire Department, until he secured the introduction of the Steam 

 Fire Engines throughout the city. 



