Richard Hockley (203)

Election date: 1768 (Elected to the revived American Philosophical Society.)

Richard Hockley (?–13 September 1774) was a merchant, public officeholder and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1768. Though born in England, Hockely and his siblings were brought over to North America and cared for by close family friend and Proprietor of Pennsylvania, Thomas Penn, after their father’s death. By 1638, Penn had provided the necessary funds to launch the young Hockley as a Charleston merchant. His mercantile business did well enough but he was eager to return to Philadelphia and in 1640 he did. When Penn himself returned to England in 1742, Hockley acted as his agent and attended to sundry matters at Pennsbury, the Penn’s family estate. In 1748 Hockley joined William Trent and George Croghan in a trading company venture but the other partners drove the enterprise to ruin by using the company’s assets to fund private pursuits. Hockley, and his son after him, spent decades trying to hold Croghan financially accountable. Beginning in 1753, Hockley received a series of appointments that would provide him the steady source of income he longed for, including Receivers-General of Quit Rents, Keeper of the Great Seal of Pennsylvania, and auditor of accounts. He remained close with Thomas Penn throughout his life, writing him frequently with insights and observations about the political and social events. Hockley died in Philadelphia in 1774. (PI)




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