[2] Weld planned to attend Harvard as his father had before him; however, during the War of 1812, a British frigate cruising off Boston Harbor captured one of the family's ships carrying a valuable cargo of wine and Spanish silver dollars.

By 22 he was in the dry-goods trade, but his partner's lack of business sense put the company in debt.

By 1833, Weld had made enough money to build Senator at Charlestown, the largest ship of that day.

[2] Weld eventually became one of the most successful merchant ship owners in the United States.

He invited Louisa May Alcott to serve as her paid nurse and travel companion for the trip.

Tours of Harvard Yard often pause near Weld Hall to note that John F. Kennedy lived there during his freshman year.