Harold Brown (December 24, 1863 – May 10, 1900) was an American financier and philanthropist who was prominent in New York society during the
Gilded Age.
Early life
Harold Brown was born on December 24, 1863, to
John Carter Brown II
John Carter Brown II (1797 – June 11, 1874) was a book collector whose library formed the basis of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University.
Early life
John Carter Brown II was born in 1797, the youngest of three surviving children bo ...
(1797–1874) and Sophia Augusta Brown (1825–1909).
His father was a collector of American books in the mid-19th century and was the first American to join the
Hakluyt Society as a charter member in 1846, and in 1855, he was elected a member of the
American Antiquarian Society. His older brother was
John Nicholas Brown I (1863–1900), who married Natalie Bayard Dresser (1869–1950) (sister-in-law of
George Washington Vanderbilt II),
and his younger sister was
Sophia Augusta Brown (1867–1947), who married
William Watts Sherman
William Watts Sherman (August 4, 1842 – January 22, 1912) was a New York City businessman and the treasurer of the Newport Casino. In 1875–1876 he had the William Watts Sherman House constructed in Newport, Rhode Island.
Early l ...
(1842–1912).
His brother donated his father's collection to
Brown University
Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...
.
Family
His paternal grandfather was
Nicholas Brown Jr.
Nicholas Brown Jr. (April 4, 1769 – September 27, 1841) was an American businessman and philanthropist from Providence, Rhode Island, who was the namesake of Brown University.
Early life
Nicholas Brown Jr. was the son of Rhoda Jenckes (1741– ...
(1769–1841), the namesake patron of
Brown University
Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...
(in 1804). His great-grandfather was
Nicholas Brown Sr.
Nicholas Brown Sr. (July 26, 1729 – May 29, 1791) was a Providence, Rhode Island slave-trader, merchant, civic leader and co-signer of the charter of the College of Rhode Island in 1763. In 1771, Nicholas Brown Sr. was instrumental in convinci ...
(1729–1791), a merchant and
slave trader who co-founded the
.
His great-grandfather was the brother of
John Brown John Brown most often refers to:
*John Brown (abolitionist) (1800–1859), American who led an anti-slavery raid in Harpers Ferry, Virginia in 1859
John Brown or Johnny Brown may also refer to:
Academia
* John Brown (educator) (1763–1842), Ir ...
,
Moses Brown, and
Joseph Brown.
His nephew,
John Nicholas Brown II (1900–1979), became the
Assistant Secretary of the Navy and married
Anne Seddon Kinsolving (1906–1985).
Career
He prepared for college with private tutors, including
William Carey Poland
William Carey Poland (1846–1929) was an American classical scholar, educator, academic administrator, and former university president. He was Emeritus, Professor Emeritus at Brown University starting in 1915; and the President of Rhode Island Sch ...
,
and later enrolled at
Brown University
Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...
with the class of 1885. He left Brown a year later, instead deciding to continue his studies at home and abroad.
In 1888, Brown and his brother, John, formed a partnership, "J.N. & H. Brown." The brother's business was similar to the activities of the family business, Brown & Ives, where they lent funds for mortgages and invested in buildings and lands out west. In their business dealings, Harold and John relied upon George W. R. Matteson, the trustee of their father's estate for advice and assistance.
Society life
In 1892, Brown was included in
Ward McAllister's "
Four Hundred", purported to be an index of New York's best families led by
Mrs. Astor
Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn Astor (September 22, 1830 – October 30, 1908) was a prominent American socialite of the second half of the 19th century who led the The Four Hundred (1892), Four Hundred. Famous for being referred to later ...
, as published in ''
The New York Times''.
Conveniently, 400 was the number of people that could fit into Mrs. Astor's ballroom.
Brown and his wife owned a home in
Newport, Rhode Island on
Bellevue Avenue
The Bellevue Avenue Historic District is located along and around Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. Its property is almost exclusively residential, including many of the Gilded Age mansions built by affluent summer vaca ...
and Hazard Street,
and lived at 382 Fifth Avenue in New York City.
He was a member of the
Metropolitan Club, the
Knickerbocker Club, the
Union League Club
The Union League Club is a private social club in New York City that was founded in 1863 in affiliation with the Union League. Its fourth and current clubhouse is located at 38 East 37th Street on the corner of Park Avenue, in the Murray H ...
, the
Grolier Club, and the
Society of Colonial Wars
The Society of Colonial Wars is a hereditary society composed of men who trace their descents from forebears who, in military, naval, or civil positions of high trust and responsibility, by acts or counsel, assisted in the establishment, defense, ...
.
Personal life
On October 4, 1892, Brown was married to Georgette Wetmore Sherman (1872–1960),
the daughter of Annie Derby Rogers (
née
A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...
Wetmore) and
William Watts Sherman
William Watts Sherman (August 4, 1842 – January 22, 1912) was a New York City businessman and the treasurer of the Newport Casino. In 1875–1876 he had the William Watts Sherman House constructed in Newport, Rhode Island.
Early l ...
(1842–1912),
a businessman and the treasurer of the
Newport Casino who was married to Brown's younger sister in 1885.
She was also the niece of Sen.
George Peabody Wetmore
George Peabody Wetmore (August 2, 1846September 11, 1921) was an American politician who was the 37th Governor of, and a Senator from, Rhode Island.
Early life
George Peabody Wetmore was born in London, England, during a visit of his parent ...
.
On May 1, 1900, his brother died of
typhoid fever. After hearing of his brother's death, Harold immediately headed home from a trip in Europe with his wife, only to himself die a few days, aged 36, later upon his return to America.
He died at the
Hotel Netherland in
New York City.
Both Harold and his brother willed their estates to his nephew, who became the heir of his family's fortune and was referred to as the richest child in the world at the time.
His widow continued to live in Newport, until her death in 1960.
References
External links
*
The Harold Brown Papersat
Brown University
Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Harold
1863 births
1900 deaths
Harold
Brown University alumni