Langley Boardman

Langley Boardman (1774-1833) was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts and worked there briefly until he moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire to open a shop on Ladd Street at age twenty-four. Inspired by the furniture forms found in Salem, Massachusetts, Boardman’s pieces had an elegance and attention to quality materials that sealed his reputation early. Within a year he was prepared with a ready-made line of furniture of the newest forms, including lady’s secretaries, night tables, and lolling chairs. Within a few years of his arrival he was investing in land and shipping. Some of the best examples of Boardman’s furniture and Portsmouth furniture can be found in Rundlet-May House. This image of Langley Boardman is courtesy of Portsmouth Historical Society, John Paul Jones House Museum, photograph by Ralph Morang.