John J. Audubon and the Ellicotts

Four brothers, the grandsons of one of the Ellicott founders (Andrew), supported Audubon (1785-1851) by being subscribers for his first book - The Birds of America, 1827.

Baltimore Orioles (left) and a sketch of Baltimore behind Canvas backed ducks (below) showed Audubon's appreciation for the geneosity of Baltimorians after his plates were destroyed.





List of subscribers from Baltimore -

Evan T. Ellicott (1793-1867) Bank of Baltimore
Samuel Ellicott (1806-1880)
Elias Ellicott (1808-1873)
Philip T. Ellicott (1809-1879) iron works, dredging company

All four Ellicotts were sons of Mary (Thomas) and Elias Ellicott (15 children) who lived in Baltimore and ran Ellicott wharf and warehouses in Baltimore and on B&O Railroad board with his brother-in-law, rather than at Ellicott mills. Most of their sons were in the iron business at Avalon (1822-1850).

Among the many other subscribers were Robert McKim, John Ridgeley, Enoch Pratt, Johns Hopkins, Robert Gilmor, John H. B. Latrobe, James Howard...

Canvass-backed ducks - "In the Plate are represented two Males and a Female. In the back ground is a view of Baltimore, which I have had great pleasure in introducing, on account of the hospitality which I have there experienced, and the generosity of its inhabitants, who, on the occasion of a quantity of my plates having been destroyed by the mob during an outburst of political feeling, indemnified me for the loss."

Audubon, John James. The Birds of America, 1840.
Images - Baltimore Oriole not in first edition. 1840 Ducks with scene of Baltimore from Library of Congress

©2023 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD