Cope, Thomas Pym

Cope, Thomas Pym

(1768–1854) merchant, philanthropist; born in Lancaster, Pa. A Quaker merchant, he established the first regular line of packet ships between Philadelphia and Liverpool (1821). He was also active in constructing canals and railroads. He was president of Philadelphia's Board of Trade (1852–54) and gave generously to the Zoological Society and the Institute for Colored Youth. He was a close friend of Stephen Girard.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.