Mary Jane Morgan

Mary Jane (Sexton) Morgan (1823–1885), initially a schoolteacher, became a fine art collector after her marriage to Charles Morgan. She was the second wife to the man who earned a fortune in the iron, railroad, and steamship industries. She also grew and collected orchids.

Early life

Mary Jane Sexton, the daughter of Sarah Mills (Ross) Sexton and Francis Sexton, was born in 1823 in New York City. Her father, an East Indian trader, was from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, and began his career as an importer in Boston. Her maternal grandfather, William Ross, was the largest carriage maker in the state for a time. Upon his death, he left a large inheritance to his grandchildren.

Mary Jane, one of eight children, was educated at private schools in the city. At Mme. Hallet's school, only French was spoken. She finished her education at Dr. Schroeder's school and began teaching French and mathematics.

Marriage

Mary Jane married Charles Morgan on June 25, 1851, becoming Mary Jane Morgan. Morgan was his second wife. Like her father, Charles was involved in the trade of goods from India. He was also a magnate in transportation industries; he owned the Louisiana and Texas Railroad and Steamship Company. He also owned the Morgan Iron Works. J. Pierpont Morgan was his cousin.

Charles had two sons — Charles and Henry — and three daughters. After their mother died, the children attended Dr. Schroeder's School on Broadway in Manhattan. Charles met Mary Jane there and they were married. He built a fine house at 7 East 26th Street in New York City.

Charles was previously married to Emily Reeves and had five children. She died in 1850. Mogan had step-grandchildren from her husband's first family. The two sons and one of the daughters died before their father. The other two daughters were Mrs. Quintard and Mrs. Whitney.

Art collector

Morgan collected fine art, like sculpture, etchings, and engravings. She collected the paintings by Eugène Delacroix, Jean-François Millet, Charles-François Daubigny, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, and many others. She also collected Japanese and Chinese porcelain, carved ivory and wood, lacquers, ceramics, plates, and glasswork. The American Art Galleries held an auction at Chickering Hall of her $1.2 million () collection in the first half of March 1886. Her total art collection, many of which were displayed on the walls of rooms, corridors, and stairways at her house at 7 East Twenty-Sixth Street on Madison Park in New York City, was estimated at $32 million (). Works from her collection are among those of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and other museums and private collections.

Death

Charles died on May 8, 1878. Morgan received a substantial share of Charles's estate, which she used to purchase artwork and orchids. Not always clear-headed, she also gave a significant amount away to people who pressed her for money. Family members fought about the estate, too. Her health declined after her husband's death and she visited the Windsor Hotel in Saratoga Springs for her care.

Morgan died on July 3, 1885, at Saratoga Springs, New York. She was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York. Charles and his first wife, Emily, are also buried at Green-Wood. All three are interred in section 81.

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1823 births
1885 deaths
People from New York City
American art collectors