Rev. John Prince

(July 11, 1751 – June 7, 1836) 

John Prince was a man of science and theology, having been accepted to Harvard in 1772, the year before the Boston Tea Party, at 21 years old. While a divinity student, his role in the “destruction of the tea” is unclear.     

Several sources, including the list provided by participant George Robert Twelves Hewes, state that Prince was a fellow participant. However, most accounts indicate Prince was a witness to the “destruction of the tea” at Griffin’s Wharf, not an active participant.  

Prince graduated from Harvard on August 14, 1776, and was called to the pulpit of the First Church in Salem in 1779. Prince’s interest in science led him to maintain a connection to Harvard over the years and repair or improve their scientific instruments. The Salem Philosophical Society, the precursor to the modern Salem Athenaeum, was founded in his home. John Prince was also a freemason of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. 

John Prince died in Salem, Massachusetts, on June 7, 1836, and is buried in Broad Street Cemetery.