William P. Winchester | |
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Born | |
Died | August 6, 1850 | (aged 48)
Occupation | Boston merchant |
Spouse | Eliza Gill Bradlee |
Children | 7 |
William Parsons Winchester (9 November 1801 5 August 1850) was an American colonel and wholesale merchant. The rank of Colonel was earned through his participation in the First Corps of Cadets, the organization originally formed as the bodyguard of the governor of Massachusetts. He commanded the corps from October 1842 to August 1844.[1] Winchester was an avid yachtsman who owned the racing yachts Mermaid and Northern Light. He was a wealthy businessman for whom the town of Winchester, Massachusetts was named in 1849 following a gift of $3,000 towards the construction of the town hall.