The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Dexter, Timothy

DEXTER, Timothy, American merchant: b. Malden, Mass., 22 Jan. 1743; d. Newburyport, 22 Oct. 1806. At an early age he became an apprentice at leather dressing, and progressed so rapidly as to soon own his own establishment. He succeeded in amassing a large fortune for those days. He developed certain eccentricities and his peculiar efforts to attain social prominence gave him great notoriety. For example he assumed the title of “Lord” Timothy Dexter, and he constructed odd and bizarre residences in Newburyport, Mass., and Chester, N. H. The grounds of the first house were adorned with 30 or 40 colossal wooden statues of famous men. He included himself in the number adding the inscription, “the greatest man of the East.” He gathered together an extensive library of books notable chiefly for their rich and expensive bindings, and also made an extraordinary collection of absolutely worthless paintings, in order to prove his knowledge of art, and supported a poet who was supposed to be ready to sing his praises upon occasions. He wrote a book called ‘A Pickle for the Knowing Ones’ and also a pamphlet with all the punctuation marks printed upon the last page, there being none in the text proper. While an able and shrewd man of business he was extremely dissipated and was regarded as a victim of a deranged mind.