Cyrus Wakefield
Encyclopedia
Cyrus Wakefield was a manufacturer of rattan
furniture and carriage bodies, and the founder of the Wakefield Rattan Company
, the largest manufacturer at the time of rattan products. Wakefield, Massachusetts
is named for him.
, and discovered several methods of utilizing the rattan waste, while of the split rattans he made furniture and carriage bodies. He established a large factory
for these manufactures in South Reading, Massachusetts
, where his rattan works covered seven acres of ground. In 1868 South Reading voted to change its name to Wakefield
, in recognition of his benefactions, particularly the gift of a town-hall that cost $100,000. He also gave $100,000 to Harvard University
, and left other large philanthropic bequests.
Rattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
furniture and carriage bodies, and the founder of the Wakefield Rattan Company
Wakefield Rattan Co.
The Wakefield Rattan Company was the world's leading manufacturer of furniture and objects made from rattan in the second half of the 19th century. Founded by Cyrus Wakefield in 1851 in South Reading, Massachusetts , the company perfected machinery for working with rattan, developing looms for...
, the largest manufacturer at the time of rattan products. Wakefield, Massachusetts
Wakefield, Massachusetts
-History:-Geography:The diagram above shows what is to the east, west, north, south, and other directions of the center of Wakefield. Towns with population above 25,000 are in bold italics.-Demographics:-Notable residents:...
is named for him.
Biography
About 1827 he went to Boston, where he engaged in trade. He originated the rattan business in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and discovered several methods of utilizing the rattan waste, while of the split rattans he made furniture and carriage bodies. He established a large factory
Wakefield Rattan Co.
The Wakefield Rattan Company was the world's leading manufacturer of furniture and objects made from rattan in the second half of the 19th century. Founded by Cyrus Wakefield in 1851 in South Reading, Massachusetts , the company perfected machinery for working with rattan, developing looms for...
for these manufactures in South Reading, Massachusetts
Reading, Massachusetts
Reading is an affluent town situated in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, some north of central Boston. The population was 24,747 at the 2010 census.-Settlement and Independence:...
, where his rattan works covered seven acres of ground. In 1868 South Reading voted to change its name to Wakefield
Wakefield, Massachusetts
-History:-Geography:The diagram above shows what is to the east, west, north, south, and other directions of the center of Wakefield. Towns with population above 25,000 are in bold italics.-Demographics:-Notable residents:...
, in recognition of his benefactions, particularly the gift of a town-hall that cost $100,000. He also gave $100,000 to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and left other large philanthropic bequests.