Part 3, Chapter 7 The Peirces, Section 4 Summary

The Robinson v. Mandell case was also called the Howland Case and dealt with the disposition of wealth made in whaling.

The Civil War did not interfere with New England's textile industry, but it did destroy the whaling business. New Bedford was the main port for many whalers. They would get their expeditions underwritten by "agencies" that were, more often then not, run by Quakers. New Bedford was not only the wealthiest community in Massachusetts, but it was the wealthiest community in the United States, and the wealthiest underwriting agency was the firm of Isaac Howland, Jr.

Howland had diversified his income and had it streaming in from several ventures. When his whaling firm was successful and established, he decided to include partners. He brought in Gideon Howland and Thomas Mandell in 1819, and eventually brought...