The Life and Family of John Amory Codman Born in 1824, John Amory Codman lived a life shaped by the shifting tides of 19th-century commerce and the quiet rhythms of coastal Massachusetts. While he is remembered for his brushwork, his personal stability was tied to the lucrative Russian and China clipper trade, which provided the wealth necessary to support his lifestyle and his creative pursuits. He spent much of his time in Boston, e…