Richard Fanning Loper: Local boy sails off to success as a captain

Carol W. Kimball

Richard Fanning Loper, Stonington sea captain and inventor
August Muller scrapbook

Kim09-031

Scrapbook

8: Communication Artifact

Documentary Artifact

The Day

New London, CT

05/09/2003

Carol W. Kimball

August Muller's scrapbook introduced Carol Kimball to Richard Fanning Loper, born in Stonington Feb 3, 1800; commander of the schooner Nancy Cobb by age 17; second mate aboard the sloop Hero commanded by friend Capt. Nathaniel B. Palmer; commander of the schooners Alonzo and Maid; inventor holding 13 valulable patents/involved in the Mexican War/government transport agent during the Civil War; president of the Philadelphia Steam Propeller Company, the Swiftsure Transportation Company and the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad. His summer home near home of Nathaniel Palmer now occupied by the Stonington Post Office; he sailed famous yacht Magic to many trophies; in 1946 Theda Kenyon published a best selling novel, "That Skipper from Stonington" based on his life. The Palmer-Loper House is owned by the Stonington Historical Society.

Loper, Richard Fanning
Muller, August
Palmer, Nathaniel B. (Capt.)
Baird, Mardie
Scott, Winfield (General)
Marcy (Secretary of War)
Lincoln, Abraham
Kenyon, Theda
Palmer, Alexander
Palmer, Elizabeth Dixon

Stonington sea captain
inventor
Mexican War
Brazos
Vera Cruz
Civil War
Army of the Potomac
Philadelphia Steam Propeller Company
Swiftsure Transportation Company
Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad
Wadawanuck square
Stonington Post Office
New York Yacht Club
Magic (yacht)
That Skipper from Stonington (novel)
Palmer Loper House
Alonzo
Maid
Nancy Cobb
Hero