Quick Facts
Biography
Peleg Coffin Jr. (November 3, 1756 – March 6, 1805) was an American financier, insurer, and politician from Nantucket and Boston, Massachusetts.
Early life
Coffin was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, into a whaling family; his parents were Peleg and Elizabeth (Hussey) Coffin. Coffin's father was lost at sea a month after he was born. This early background led him to found and head the New England Marine Insurance Company.
Public service
Coffin served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1783-1784, and in 1789, and in the Massachusetts Senate from 1785 to 1787, 1789 to 1792, and 1795 to 1796. He was elected to represent Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives in the 3rd United States Congress from March 4, 1793 to March 3, 1795. Coffin was the Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts from 1797 to 1801.