Wilcocks, Benjamin Chew, 1776-1845

Benjamin Chew Wilcocks and his brother James Smith Wilcocks pioneered American opium trade, traveling as supercargoes on the first American ship to transport Turkish opium on the Pennsylvania in 1805. The Wilcocks were prominent Philadelphia merchants and China traders, with Wilcocks living in Canton for extended periods. He served as U.S. Consul to China from 1820-1827, and the Chinese called Chew “The High Devil.” He was the son of Alexander Wilcocks and Mary Chew, and he married Sarah Wain, a cousin, in 1842.

Mentioned in these documents

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre - December 16, 1799]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister Ann Upshur Eyre, written from Philadelphia. She mentions see various friends in town such as Paschall Hollingsworth, Mr. Davis, and Ben Wilcocks, and members of the Teackle family..

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre, April 5, 1813]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre, in response to a letter about Ann's time in Philadelphia. She talks about enjoying imagining the trip and says she sometimes envies her sister. She mentions how her garden is flourishing and asks Ann to bring her hyacinth roots. She also mentions their shared acquaintances John Brown, Samuel Ewing, Benjamin Chew Wilcocks, Valeria Fullerton, Sarah Eyre Lyon, Eleanor "Nelly" Jackson Dennis, and Elizabeth "Betsy" Snead.