Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Matthew CAREY
CAREY, Matthew, philanthropist, was born in Ireland Jan. 28, 1760. He was liberally educated, and at the age of fifteen he adopted the printer's trade, and two years later published an address to the Irish Catholics, which was so offensive to the authorities that, to escape arrest, he was obliged to flee to France. He there met Benjamin Franklin, who befriended him and gave him such advice as influenced his entire subsequent career. Returning to Ireland at the age of eighteen, he became a power, and contributed largely to the subsequent liberal legislation respecting Ireland; but for a violent attack upon the ministry, Mr. Carey was brought before parliament and imprisoned until 1784. On his release he immigrated to the United States, landed in Philadelphia in November, 1784, and soon afterwards engaged in the publication of the Philadelphia Herald and the American Museum, the latter a monthly magazine, which he continued through thirteen half-yearly volumes. He also wrote numerous pamphlets on the topics of the day, all of which had a marked influence on public opinion. In 1791 he opened, in connection with his printing business, a small book store, which gradually grew into one of the largest and most important publishing houses in the country. Mr. Carey, in connection with Bishop White, organized the first Sunday-school society that was formed in the United States, and he was, throughout his life, active in all public enterprises that were calculated to promote the interests of the city and state of his adoption. He set on foot the system of internal improvements that resulted in the construction of the Pennsylvania canals, and himself established many of the charitable institutions for which Philadelphia is so justly celebrated. His friend, John Sargeant, wrote of him: "He has given more time, money and labor to the public than any man I am acquainted with, and in truth he has founded in Philadelphia a school of public spirit." He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 16, 1839.
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