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Thomas G. Appleton, universally known as “Tom”
Appleton, was a notable figure during the middle of the last century not only in
Boston and
Cambridge, but in
Paris,
Rome,
Florence, and other
European cities.
He was descended from one of the oldest and wealthiest families of
Boston, and graduated from Harvard in 1831, together with
Wendell Phillips and
George Lothrop Motley.
He was not distinguished in college for his scholarship, but rather as a wit, a bon vivant, and a good fellow.
Yet his companions looked upon him as a strong character and much above the average in intellect.
After taking his degree of
Bachelor of Arts he went through the Law School, and attempted to practise that profession in
Boston.
At the end of the first year, happening to meet
Wendell Phillips on the sidewalk, the latter inquired if he had any clients.
He had not; neither had
Phillips, and they both agreed that waiting for fortune in the legal profession was wearisome business.
They were both well adapted to it, and the only reason for their ill success would seem to have been that they belonged to wealthy and rather aristocratic families, amongst whom there is little litigation.
At the same time
Sumner was laying the foundation