Nathan Appleton (October 6, 1779 – July 14, 1861) was an American merchant and politician and a member of the group of entrepreneurs known as "The Boston Associates".

[4] In 1813, Appleton co-operated with Francis Cabot Lowell, Patrick T. Jackson, Paul Moody and others in introducing the power loom and the manufacture of cotton on a large scale into the United States, establishing a factory at Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1814.

In a pamphlet entitled The Origin of Lowell, Appleton wrote of the mills: "The contrast in the character of our manufacturing population with that of Europe has been the admiration of most intelligent strangers.

[13] Frances wrote to her brother Thomas on August 30, 1843: "We have decided to let Father purchase this grand old mansion",[14] which was also a former headquarters of George Washington during the American Revolutionary War.

Nathan Appleton also purchased the land across the street, as Longfellow's mother wrote, "so that their view of the River Charles may not be intercepted".

[15] Fanny Appleton died on July 10, 1861, after accidentally catching fire;[16] her father was too sick to attend her funeral.