John Vaughan

John Vaughan (1756-1841) was an English wine merchant and long-time treasurer and librarian for the American Philosophical Society. Vaughan met Benjamin Franklin while in France in 1778, then came to Philadelphia in 1782 where he entered the business of importing spirits into America.

Vaughan was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1784, became treasurer in 1791 and librarian in 1803, and served in these posts until his death. Vaughan was instrumental in building the Society's library collection and in introducing scientists and historians to each other through his letters and Sunday breakfasts. Although not a scholar himself, he appreciated the talents and contributions of his scholarly colleagues.

John Vaughan and Thomas Jefferson maintained an on-going correspondence for more than thirty years. The business-oriented letters focus primarily on activities of the American Philosophical Society and on personal financial transactions.

Further Sources

• ANB.
• American Philosophical Society.
• Stetson, Sarah P. "The Philadelphia Sojourn of Samuel Vaughan." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography vol. 73, no. 4 (1949): 459-74.
• Transcriptions of Jefferson-Vaughan Correspondence available at Founders Online.