118. Thomas H. Perkins, a Millionaire, made by the China Trade

Thomas Handasyd Perkins was a Boston Merchant, who played a significant role in the China Trade. Perkins was one of the first
Boston merchants to engage in this trade. In 1789 he sailed on the Astrea to Canton. Its cargo included ginseng, cheese, lard, wine, and iron. On the trip back it carried tea and cotton cloth. As the trade developed, his ships went first to the coast of the Pacific Northwest to trade for furs from the native American Indians, and then to China to exchange the skins for Chinese goods. The China trade made Perkins a millionaire. More stories about Perkins in the China Trade through this link.