Humphrey H. Swift elected the South American export trade as his specialty, and for sixty years was actively engaged in it. His first export was a $10,000 cargo of tea and from then on he made frequent voyages to Brazil, coming to know the Brazilians very well and made many friends, including the then sovereign Don Pedro II, who honored him with the Order of the Roses in 1867. His experience and influence in Brazil helped the United States during the Civil War when he was able to secure options on coal. He also worked with the American consul in providing for sailors from whaling ships and merchantmen captured and burned by the Confederates. In Brazil he was connected with many enterprises and movements to better the country, including his active engagement in bringing about emancipation of slaves in Brazil. He encouraged the planters to increase their cotton acreage and introduced the cotton gin there, enabling planters to handle their greater crops.
Drawn from History of New Bedford, Zephaniah W. Pease, vol. III, 1918.
Drawn from History of New Bedford, Zephaniah W. Pease, vol. III, 1918.
Humphrey H. Swift elected the South American export trade as his specialty, and for sixty years was actively engaged in it. His first export was a $10,000 cargo of tea and from then on he made frequent voyages to Brazil, coming to know the Brazilians very well and made many friends, including the then sovereign Don Pedro II, who honored him with the Order of the Roses in 1867. His experience and influence in Brazil helped the United States during the Civil War when he was able to secure options on coal. He also worked with the American consul in providing for sailors from whaling ships and merchantmen captured and burned by the Confederates. In Brazil he was connected with many enterprises and movements to better the country, including his active engagement in bringing about emancipation of slaves in Brazil. He encouraged the planters to increase their cotton acreage and introduced the cotton gin there, enabling planters to handle their greater crops.
Drawn from History of New Bedford, Zephaniah W. Pease, vol. III, 1918.
Drawn from History of New Bedford, Zephaniah W. Pease, vol. III, 1918.
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