Herman Daggett Aldrich (July 6, 1801 – April 5, 1880) was an American businessman and philanthropist in the

Gilded Age In United States history, the Gilded Age was an era extending roughly from 1877 to 1900, which was sandwiched between the Reconstruction era and the Progressive Era. It was a time of rapid economic growth, especially in the Northern and Weste ...

Early life

Herman Daggett Aldrich was born on July 6, 1801, in

Mattituck, New York Mattituck is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 4,219 at the 2010 census. Located in the Town of Southold, Mattituck CDP roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name. ...

. His father, James Aldrich, was of English descent. His nephew, Herman D. Aldrich Jr. married in 1860.

Career

Aldrich moved to New York City, where he worked for Stephen Lockwood, a merchant. In 1820, Aldrich co-founded McCurdy and Aldrich, a dry goods commission firm, with

Robert Henry McCurdy Robert Henry McCurdy (April 14, 1800 – April 5, 1880)''U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925''; National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C. was an American businessman and political candidate. He amassed great wealth wi ...

. It later became known as McCurdy, Aldrich and Spencer. The three partners retired , when it became Low, Harriman & Co., founded by

Oliver Harriman Oliver Harriman (September 16, 1829 – March 12, 1904) was an American businessman and member of the wealthy Harriman family. Early life Oliver Harriman was born on September 16, 1829 in New York City. His parents were Orlando Harriman (1790� ...

and his father-in-law, James Low. Aldrich made charitable contributions to St. Luke's Hospital Center.

Personal life

In 1840, Aldrich married Elizabeth Wyman (1821–1904), the daughter of Hannah D. Mayo and , who donated Wyman Park to

Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hem ...

. They resided on 14th Street, until they moved to 200

Madison Avenue Madison Avenue is a north-south avenue in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, United States, that carries northbound one-way traffic. It runs from Madison Square (at 23rd Street) to meet the southbound Harlem River Drive at 142nd Stre ...

, both of which are located in

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

, New York City. In addition to three children who died in childhood, they had three sons and two daughters: * Mary Elizabeth Aldrich (d. 1919), who married

Thomas Underwood Dudley Thomas Underwood Dudley (September 26, 1837 – January 22, 1904) was an American prelate who served as the second Bishop of Kentucky in The Episcopal Church. Early life and education Dudley was born in Richmond, Virginia on September 26, 1837 ...

(1837–1904), the second Episcopal Bishop of Kentucky. * James Herman Aldrich (1843–1917), who married Mary Gertrude Edson (1850–1924). * William Wyman Aldrich (1849–1891) * Helen Hudson Aldrich (1851–1926), who married Rev. Dr. James Nevett Steele (1850–1916) of the Trinity Church. He was the nephew of Rep.

John Nevett Steele John Nevett Steele (February 22, 1796 – August 13, 1853) was an American politician. Early life Steele was born on February 22, 1796, in Weston, Maryland. He was the son of James Steele (1760–1816) and Mary Nevett (1769–1836). His m ...

. * Spencer Aldrich (1854–1936), who married Harriet Dall Hall (1855–1937) in 1878. Aldrich died on April 5, 1880, at his Madison Avenue residence. His funeral was held as a joint ceremony with Robert Henry McCurdy, who died on the same day, at the Calvary Church on Wednesday morning. The funeral was attended by Peter Cooper,

William E. Dodge William Earl Dodge Sr. (September 4, 1805 – February 9, 1883) was an American businessman, politician, and activist. He was referred to as one of the "Merchant Princes" of Wall Street in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Dodge ...

Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen (August 4, 1817May 20, 1885) was an American lawyer and politician from New Jersey who served as a U.S. Senator and later as United States Secretary of State under President Chester A. Arthur. Early life and e ...

James Watson Webb General James Watson Webb (February 8, 1802 – June 7, 1884) was a United States diplomat, newspaper publisher and a New York politician in the Whig and Republican parties. Early life Webb was born in Claverack, New York to Catherine Louisa ( ...

Thurlow Weed Edward Thurlow Weed (November 15, 1797 – November 22, 1882) was a printer, New York newspaper publisher, and Whig and Republican politician. He was the principal political advisor to prominent New York politician William H. Seward and was ins ...

, etc. His sermon was given by Bishop

Henry C. Potter Henry Codman Potter (May 25, 1834 – July 21, 1908) was a bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States. He was the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Potter was "more praised and appreciated, perhaps, than any public man ...

and Reverend E. A. Washburne of the Episcopal Church. He was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery, next to McCurdy. His estate built Aldrich Court, a skyscraper located at 41-45 Broadway in Manhattan, between 1886 and 1887. By September 1905, his extensive real estate holdings, inherited by his widow and valued at US$5 million, were auctioned off.

Descendants

His granddaughter through his on William, Elizabeth Wyman Aldrich, was married to Jacob Berry Underhill, son of Edward B. Underhil in 1892. The Wedding was performed by Aldrich's son-in-law, Bishop Dudley and the reception was hosted by his widow at their home at 200 Madison Avenue.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aldrich, Herman D. 1801 births 1880 deaths American people of English descent People from Suffolk County, New York Businesspeople from Manhattan Philanthropists from New York (state) 19th-century American philanthropists 19th-century American businesspeople