Adolph Edward Borie was born at Philadelphia 25 November 1809. In 1825, he was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, then joined the family business importing tea and silk from the orient.
  In 1843, he was appointed Consul General to Belgium. From 1848 to 1860, he was president of the Bank of Commerce in Philadelphia.
  On 5 March 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant, said to be a card-playing acquaintance, appointed him 25th Secretary of the Navy. Due to ill health, he resigned only three and a half months later on 22 June, but after recovering, resumed service in the Grant administration (1869–77) as an advisor. In 1878–79, following President Grant’s second term, he accompanied his friend on a world tour.
  Secretary Borie died at his Philadelphia home 5 February 1880.