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Col. Thomas Handasyd Perkins <ref name="term_55300" />
<p> an American merchant, noted for his philanthropic labors, was born in [[Boston]] Dec. 15, 1764. He began his commercial life in partnership with his elder brother James, who was a resident of St. Domingo when the insurrection of the blacks occurred, and was compelled to flee for his life. In 1789 he went as supercargo to [[Batavia]] and Canton, and obtained a thorough acquaintance with the Oriental trade. The brothers afterwards embarked in the trade to the north-west coast, Canton, and Calcutta, in which they acquired great wealth. Soon after the death of James, in 1822, Colossians Perkins retired from active business. The Perkins family gave over $60,000 to the Boston Athenaeum. He took a prominent part in the erection of the Bunker-hill Monument, and gave his estate in [[Pearl]] Street, valued at $40,000, for the use of the [[Asylum]] for the Blind. He was also in 1827 the projector of the [[Quincy]] Railway, the first in the United States. Subsequently he was much interested in urging forward the completion of the [[Washington]] Monument; and was also the largest contributor to the Mercantile [[Library]] Association. For many years he represented Boston in both branches of the state legislature. See Drake, Dict. of Amer. Biog. s.v. Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Auth. s.v. </p>

== References ==
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<ref name="term_55300"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/cyclopedia-of-biblical-theological-and-ecclesiastical-literature/perkins,+col.+thomas+handasyd Col. Thomas Handasyd Perkins from Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature]</ref>
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