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Thomas Hutchinson: Boston's Leading Citizen -- Part One

© Brian Tubbs

The chief justice of Massachusetts was angry. August 14, 1765, had seen a major breakdown in order, and local authorities had been unable to do anything about it. They simply watched the riot run its course. But if any of the local authorities thought August 14 was the culmination of city violence, they were very mistaken.

By the end of the day, August 15, Boston began to stir once again. This time, a crowd congregated around what was left of Andrew Oliver's house, which had been ransacked the day before. With his family huddling around him in terror, Oliver sent a note out to the boisterous and growing crowd, which they read as a promise to resign. (Oliver later said it was only a pledge to delay taking office, until hearing from London on the unrest the Stamp Act was causing in Boston). Satisfied, the crowd left Oliver's residence and headed toward the man once recognized as Boston's most promising citizen.

The lieutenant governor and chief justice of the colony, Thomas Hutchinson, was dining with his family the evening of August 15, when fists began pounding on the door, demanding that he come out. Previous to this week, Hutchinson had not been associated with the Stamp Act. In fact, he had counseled London against it. But his efforts to defend Oliver's home the night before helped channel Boston's anger his way. Should he go out and face down the mob? His pride would not allow it. He braced himself for the worst.

Thomas Hutchinson was born in 1711 to a well-connected and prosperous family in Boston. In fact, the Hutchinson family played a major role in founding the Massachusetts Bay colony, and had seen their fortunes rise along with those of Massachusetts in general. Virtually all the Hutchinsons, from generation to generation, were merchants. And, over time, they manifested the same basic approach to commerce and trade. They were cautious and careful, not given to great risk, and known for solid, practical planning. As a consequence, they were not the richest family in the colony, but they were solidly well off.

Hutchinson entered Harvard at age 12, where he focused not only on his intellectual development, but also on financial growth. His father gave him, upon entry into college, "two or three quintals of fish." Through his college years, which included several trips to sea, he built that initial "capital" into a respectable amount of money. Combined with the inheritance from his father, Hutchinson became a rich man while still fairly young. Marriage added to his wealth and connections (including an entrée to Massachusetts Governor Jonathan Belcher), and by age 26, he confidently entered public service in a state of complete, financial security.

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