Peter Bent Brigham

1807 - 1877  (69 years)  Submit Photo / Document

• Name	Peter Bent Brigham
  Born	4 Sep 1807	Bakersfield, Franklin, Vermont
  Gender	Male
  Census	1870
  		1870 Brigham 6. 870 US census, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, Family Number 1214, Brigham. (Line 4 living in a boarding house.)
  Library book: History of the Brigham Family	343
  Died	24 May 1877	Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
  		Peter B Brigham Death. Peter B Brigham Death. Boston Massachusetts Register of Deaths.
  Philanthropy	1879
  	Established the Brigham Academy - Bakersfield, Vermont
  		Brigham Acadamy, part of Peter Bent Brigham's legacy. Brigham Acadamy, part of Peter Bent Brigham's legacy.
  		Brigham Acadamy, part of Peter Bent Brigham's legacy. Brigham Acadamy, part of Peter Bent Brigham's legacy.
  Philanthropy	1913
  	He began selling oysters from a wheelbarrow. He came to be the owner a very successful restaurant on the corner of Hanover and Court street in Boston Massachusetts. This restaurant was called "Concert Hall". His greatest success was that of a real estate investor. He took a deep interest in his home town and he did much to promote the welfare of the city. He never sought public office but, his judgment was often sought by the city officials. His expertise in real estate made him the ideal consultant when it came to questions of street widening and other such improvements. He was one of the original directors of the Fitchburg Railroad and held that office until his death. He abstained from alcohol and tobacco, and had great sympathy for his fellow man. He often canceled notes of indebtedness and in other ways assisted those who found themselves in tough circumstances. Peter never married. He gave very careful thought to the disposition of his large estate. He often lamented his want of a higher education. In full appreciation of it's importance, in his will. He provided $40,000 to his birth town, Bakersfield Vermont. $10,000 was to go for caring for the graves of his parents, brothers and sisters. The remaining $30,000 established and provided for the care of the Brigham Academy. After taking care of a long list of siblings, nieces, employees and servants, $1,300,000 was set a side not to be spent until 25 years after his death. By that time the fund had grown to $2,000,000. This money was to be used to establish a hospital "for the care of sick persons in indigent circumstances". Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, was a world famous medical research hospital connected with Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Peter's nephew formed the Robert Breck Brigham Hospital to serve patients with arthritis and other debilitating joint diseases. The two Brigham hospitals became formally affiliated with Boston's Women's Hospital and today are known as the Brigham Woman's Hospital. Brigham Academy, was a private school that saw students enrolled from throughout the region. It was built in 1879. As the movement toward public schooling grew, enrollment dropped until the academy was forced to close its doors. At the 1966 Bakersfield Town Meeting it was voted to close Brigham Academy because of needed repairs. As a result of this action, the heirs of Sarah B. Jacobs, Sara J. Kendall and Roxanna Hankison, led by Consuelo Northrop Bailey, sued the town for the return of the Brigham funds plus compound interest. By a court order, the town paid eight Brigham heirs the sum of $55,440. The Court also decreed that the interest from the Brigham School Fund belonged to the town for operating town schools. Efforts to convert the building into town offices and school rooms for Bakersfield Elementary School have been met by stiff opposition, and the future of Brigham Academy remains uncertain.
  		Peter Bent Brigham Hospital Peter Bent Brigham Hospital
  		Peter Bent Brigham Hospital Postcard. Peter Bent Brigham Hospital Postcard.
  Buried	Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
  Siblings	7 siblings
  1. Mary Brigham,   b. 31 Jul 1792, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts
  2. Elizabeth Fay Brigham,   b. 8 Jan 1794, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 12 Apr 1853, Bakersfield, Franklin, Vermont
  3. Uriah Brigham,   b. 3 Sep 1795, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 17 Oct 1814
  4. Breck Brigham,   b. 23 Nov 1799,   d. 28 Jun 1818
  5. Josiah Fay Brigham,   b. 11 Oct 1801, Bakersfield, Franklin, Vermont ,   d. 28 Aug 1878, Bakersfield, Franklin, Vermont
  6. Benjamin Gott Brigham,   b. 10 Jun 1808, Bakersfield, Franklin, Vermont ,   d. 16 Mar 1858, Fairfield, Franklin, Vermont
  7. Sarah Brigham,   b. 5 Mar 1809
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I2360	Nagel
  Last Modified	29 Jun 2015

  
  

  Father	Uriah Brigham, Jr,   b. 11 Jul 1757, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 16 Sep 1820, Bakersfield, Franklin, Vermont  (Age 63 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Elizabeth Fay,   b. 28 Apr 1767, Southborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts ,   d. 9 Nov 1837, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts  (Age 70 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Married	25 Dec 1790
  Family ID	F854	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 4 Sep 1807 - Bakersfield, Franklin, Vermont Died - 24 May 1877 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Buried - - Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Peter Bent Brigham The History of the Brigham Family, A Record of Several Thousand Descendants of Thomas Brigham the Emigrant, 1603-1653. By W.I. Tyler Brigham. Published by the Grafton Press, New York, 1907
  		Peter Bent Brigham Peter Bent Brigham
  		Peter Bent Brigham Peter Bent Brigham - philanthropist, Started the hospital now known as the Brigham and Women's Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard University. My 4th cousin, 7 times removed

  
  

  Documents		Starting Brigham Hospital. The Boston Post, Friday morning, May 9, 1902, page 12.
  		Legal Battle For Brigham Millions. The Boston Post, Sunday July 6, 1902, page 23.