Edward Augustus Holyoke Hemenway (April 25, 1805 – June 16, 1876) was an American self-made merchant from Boston, Massachusetts.
He went to work as a supercargo for Benjamin Bangs, a wealthy shipowner and merchant in Boston, and for a few years was his agent and partner in South American trade.
He was extremely hard working and ensured that all details of his business were personally attended to by him, including the loading of ships.
This overwork resulted in a nervous breakdown in 1860;[8] he spent 14 years in Dr. Buel's Sanitarium in Litchfield, Connecticut recuperating.
His widow, Mary, continued with philanthropic works, including the saving of the Old South Meeting House of Boston as an historical landmark.
Their son, Augustus Jr. (1853-1931), graduated from Harvard University in 1875, and was married to Harriet Lawrence, one of the founders of the Audubon Society.