Henry White (1732-1786)

He was born at Easton, Maryland, to a Scottish Colonel who had joined his uncle there in 1712. Henry was educated in England but returned to America to pursue a mercantile career at New York. He traded with South Carolina and Europe before buying the 10-gun Moro after his marriage in 1761 to Eva Van Cortlandt. He then engaged in privateering - "the favorite business of the time". He was appointed to His Majesty's Council and was connected in business with the East India Company. In 1772, he became the 4th President of the New York Chamber of Commerce. He was one of the four owners of the ship whose cargo was famously thrown over board at the Boston Tea Party in 1773. He sided with the Loyalists during the Revolution and after his property (notably the De Peyster House) was confiscated he and his wife vacated New York with the British Army in 1783. He died three years later at Golden Square in London's Piccadilly. He was survived by six children: three settled in London and three remained in New York.