Derby House

Derby House. Salem Maritime National Historic Site. , The Derby House is the oldet surviving brick building in Salem, and one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the city., Wealthy merchant Richard Derby, Sr. built this house in 1762 as a wedding present for his second son, Elias Hasket Derby. This was an important present to Hasket and his new wife Elizabeth, for maintaining a prosperous appearance in the home was an important part of a merchant's business credit in the 18th century. Elizabeth's good management of this house and seven children they raised here was vital to Hasket's ability to establish himself as merchant., The wealth that Hasket earned through privateering during the American REvolution allowed the family to move to a larger house on Essex Street about 1780, and as the family wealth increased with Hasket's leadership in the East Indies trade, they built a magnificent mansion in the center of town., The Derbys first rented out the house, then sold it in 1796 to Henry Prince, a local merchant. In the next century, the house became home to mariners and factory workers before it became part of Salam Maritime NHS in 1938.,

By a regular application to commercial pursuits, by a careful attention to all parts of his buisness, and by a remarkable course of good fortune, he arrived to a high degree of opulence. He possessed an uncommon spirit of enterprise. , , Obituary of Elias Hasket Derby, Salem Gazette, September 10, 1799

[Captions:] , Elias Hasket Derby (1739-1799) was already one of the wealthiest merchants in Salem when he sent his first ship to the East Indies. His ships opened trade for Salem around the world, including such far-flung ports as Russia, India, China, and the Philippines., Elias Hasket and Elizabeth Derby's house was filled with elegant furniture, imported fabrics and ceramics, and other trade goods.