Forrester, Capt. Simon
From Salem Links and Lore
Simon Forrester was born May 10, 1748 in Kelleenbach, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parents.
Forrester arrived in Salem in 1767 at the age of 19, as a member of the crew of the schooner Salisbury. The captain of the ship
invited him to stay in Salem at his home on Union Street.
He became one of pioneers of Salem merchant shipping and one of Salem's leading merchants and philanthropists.
He was a member of the Salem Marine Society and served on a committee which arranged for the lighthouse to be built on Baker's Island.
His house still stands on 188 Derby Street. He acquired this three story, five-bay, hipped-roof house in an unfinished state in 1791.
He died in 1817 on July 4th and is buried at Charter Street Burying Point.
See Also
- Vertical File in Salem Collection - Forrester, Simon
- Captain Forrester; the story of a Salem merchant prince by H.D. Purcell
- Architecture in Salem by Tolles, p. 55-6
- "Forrester was an active millionaire" Salem Evening News, Mar. 22, 2000 p. A2
- "Salem's Simon Forrester an early immigrant success story" Salem News, Nov. 7, 2006, p. B5
