John Revere was the eldest son of Joseph W. and Mary (Robbins) Revere,
and was born while his parents were living at No. 7 Federal Street,
Boston, March 31, 1822.
[Illustration: Jn Revere & signature]
He attended the public schools in Boston, and for a time Mr. Thayer's
school in Milton, which meanwhile was removed to Jamaica Plain; was
fitted for college in the Boston Latin School under Master Dillaway;
entered Harvard College and graduated therefrom in the class of 1841.
Immediately after his graduation he entered the office of Messrs. A. &
C. Cunningham, on Rowe's Wharf, where he remained until April, 1843,
when he went out to Cronstadt in the brig Kazan, Captain Leckie. After
leaving the brig on her arrival out, he traveled abroad until
December of that year. Mr. Lincoln, whose visit to England has already
been mentioned, met Mr. Revere in London during his stay there.
He was admitted to the business during the following year, acquiring
stock which was transferred to him January 11, 1845, and was elected
clerk of the Corporation on the same day. He was made acting agent in
Boston January 17, 1846; assumed charge of the mills at Canton on the
retirement of Mr. Lincoln, September 11, 1858; was elected Treasurer
July 1, 1872, and finally chosen President, July 5, 1881, remaining in
this last position until his death.
Amiable, tender, and sensitive to a very extraordinary degree, he was
constantly sacrificing himself for others. He would rather at any time
suffer himself than run any risk of disappointing or inconveniencing
another. This course unfortunately prepared for him burdens and
complications that ultimately troubled and worried him a good deal.
Every instinct of his nature was upright. He was absolutely incapable of
a mercenary thought or purpose.
In many ways he was certainly unsuited for a business life. He had no
love for it. It was a competition and struggle for preferment, place, or
gain--a selfish strife--utterly distasteful to him. He had a fondness
for literature, read understandingly, possessed an uncommon memory, and
had the faculty of expressing himself in writing with unusual felicity,
indicating perhaps the path wherein he might have been eminently
successful. His own preferences were, however, never permitted by him to
weigh against the plans or wishes of his father.
It seemed to be impossible for him to turn away unaided an applicant for
assistance, especially if a soldier, or belonging to a soldier's
family. The presence of his two brothers in the army; their active work
and death, naturally attracted and interested him in all the events and
participants of the war. His interest in everything that pertained to
the Rebellion was never in the least abated, and he was distinguished
for his intimate and exact knowledge of the formation, positions, and
movements of the army.
Never conspicuous for his physical vigor, he finally fell into a
decline, resulting, after a weary and wearing illness of nearly two
years, in his death, which took place at his home in Canton, July 26,
1886.[12]
It was my fortune to be associated with him for a period of more than
forty years in relations that naturally ripened into an intimacy of the
most cordial confidence; and it is now a gratification to me to cherish
the recollection of his many excellent qualities, and to do what I may
by an honest loyalty to guard and preserve his memory.