Marmaduke Burrough papers 1829-1847

Mss.B.B946

Date: 1829-1847 | Size: 0.25 Linear feet
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Abstract

The material in this collection is primarily the receipts for books, clothes, passages, a rhinoceros, etc., while he was in Calcutta. There is also a small volume (approximately 50 pages), a duplicate receipt book which he kept as the Consul for the U.S. in Vera Cruz, Mexico.

Background note

Marmaduke Burrough (1797-1844) was born in Camden, New Jersey, to Jehu Burrough and Ann[a] Hollinshead. He trained as a physician in Philadelphia but spent most of his life in consular service, including appointments as U.S. Consul to Lima, Peru; Calcutta, India; and Vera Cruz, Mexico. In 1830, Burrough brought the first two rhinoceroses to America from Calcutta and sold them to a traveling exhibitor.

Collection Information

Physical description

16 items.

Provenance

Presented by Mrs. Helen Taylor Currier and Dr. Edward Teitelman and accessioned, 1969 (1969 27ms).

Early American History Note

Marmaduke Burrough was a physician who served as U.S. Consul to Calcutta in 1828 and then Vera Cruz from 1835-1838. This collection contains a range of receipts relating to Burrough's expenses as consul in both Calcutta and Vera Cruz. The Calcutta receipts begin in 1829 and end in 1830. These loose leaf receipts capture a range of Burrough's activity, including bills from physicians, expenses for entertaining, and one for the passage of "a living rhinoceros" to Philadelphia onboard the Georgian. Burrough bought and then brought the second live rhinoceros to the United States in 1830. The animal was displayed in Philadelphia before being sold to a traveling exhibit.

The Vera Cruz records are in a bound journal entitled "duplicate bills" and record many of the same consul activities, minus the purchase and export of a live rhinoceros.

There is one letter in the collection. The letter from Prosper Wetmore, a prominent New York businessman, in is long and contains some retrospectives on his life.

The consular records provide insight on the growth of U.S. interests abroad and can offer insight into the activities of U.S. diplomats on these assignments.

Indexing Terms


Genre(s)

  • Bills.
  • Business Records and Accounts
  • Diplomatic Material
  • General Correspondence
  • Official Government Documents and Records
  • Receipts.

Subject(s)

  • Americans Abroad
  • Consuls -- United States.
  • Diplomatic History
  • Diplomats -- United States.
  • Zoological specimens -- Collection and preservation.


Detailed Inventory

 James Custer to Marmaduke Burrough. Receipt.
1829 September Box 1:
folder 1
 Messrs. Jessop and Company Statement
1829 September Box 1:
folder 2
 D. Nuthall. Receipt for black cloth dress.
1829 October 14 Box 1:
folder 3
 J. ¥. Blaikie and J. ¥. Rulon. Statement.
1829 November 7 Box 1:
folder 4
 J. Robinson, surgeon. Receipt.
1830 April 14 Box 1:
folder 5
 George Ryan and J. B. Sloan. Receipt to Marmaduke Burrough for passage of Mr. Haines and servant.
1830 June 9 Box 1:
folder 6
 George Ryan and J.S. Sloan. Receipt to Marmaduke Burrough for passage for self and "a living Rhinoceros."
1830 June 9 Box 1:
folder 7
 J. Robinson, surgeon. Receipt.
1830 June 11 Box 1:
folder 8
 Ramralton Day. Bill.
1830 June 13 Box 1:
folder 9
 J. S. Sloan. Receipt for shipping rhinoceros.
1830. June Box 1:
folder 10
 Marmaduke Burrough, U.S. Consul at Vera Cruz, Mexico. Duplicate receipt book.
I835 Feb. 7- I838 Jan. Box 1:
folder 11
 G. ¥. Carpenter. Bill
1836 October 28 Box 1:
folder 12
 Thomas S. Field & Co. Receipt.
1843 April 1 Box 1:
folder 13
 Prosper M. Wetmore to M. Burrough.
1843 June 20 Box 1:
folder 14
 Charles Bispham. Receipt to estate of M. Burrough.
1847 February 8 Box 1:
folder 15
 George Ryan to Mr. Burrough.
June 9 Box 1:
folder 16