Paul Cuffe was a philanthropist, merchant, and sea captain. The son
of a former slave father and Native American mother, Paul Cuffe was
born on the island of Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts. Most of Cuffe's life
was spent in Westport, where he bought a farm for $3500. He
had earned his fortune from whaling and trade in the Americas and
Europe. He owned shares, over a period of time, in up to ten ships.