SOME PROMINENT SCOTS IN NEW YORK CITY
Many names mentioned in other sections apply equally to New York city but for lack of space they are not here again referred to. David Jamison, one of the early Colonial lawyers in New York, was born in Scotland. In 1707 he defended Francis Makemie, the Presbyterian clergyman, when he was arrested for preaching in the city without a license, and in 1710 he became Chief Justice of New Jersey. James Graham (died c. 1700), Recorder of the city, was also a native of Scotland. John Watts (1749-1836), of Scots parentage, was the last Royal Recorder of the city, Speaker of the New York Assembly, Member of Congress, 1793-96, and founder of the Leake and Watts Orphan Asylum. Archibald Gracie, born in Dumfries, emigrated to America about 1778. Through his business enterprise he largely developed the commercial importance of the port of New York. He was also founder of the first Savings Bank in America, founder of the Lying-in Hospital of the Cedar Street Presbyterian Church, President of the Chamber of Commerce for twenty years, etc. Cadwallader David Golden (1769-1834), grandson of Cadwallader Colden, was Mayor of the city from 1818 to 1821, and made an enviable record in that office. James Lenox (1800-80), merchant, philanthropist, bibliophile, and founder of the Lenox Library, now incorporated in the New York Public Library, was one of the most useful citizens New York ever possessed. His public benefactions were numerous, but only the largest were made public. Among these were the Lenox Library, formerly at Fifth Avenue and Seventieth Street; the Presbyterian Hospital, and liberal endowments to Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Alexander Turney Stewart (1803-76), merchant and philanthropist, born in Ireland of Scots parents, established the great dry goods business now owned by John Wanamaker. He was nominated as Secretary of the Treasury (1869) but was not confirmed. Hugh Maxwell (1787-1873), born in Paisley, was Assistant Junior Advocate General in 1814, District Attorney for the city from 1819 to 1829, and Collector of the Port (1849-52). Robert L. Stuart (1806-82) and his brother Alexander (1810-79), sugar refiners, both gave large sums, estimated at over two million dollars, to many charities, and the library, pictures, and mineral and shell collections of the former are preserved in a separate room of the New York Public Library. Hugh Auchincloss (1817-90) and John Auchincloss, his brother, sons of Hugh Auchincloss of Paisley, were prominent merchants in the city. Robert Lenox Kennedy (b. 1822), banker and public spirited citizen, grandson of a Scot, was President of the Trustees of the New York Public Library, an institution largely Scottish in its foundation and endowment. James Gibb, born in Scotland in 1829, a successful merchant, was President of Brooklyn Park Commission. James Cruikshank (b. 1831), of Scottish descent, was noted for his activity in furthering education in Brooklyn. Abram Stevens Hewitt (1822-1903), of Scottish parentage, was Member of Congress from New York (1875-79, 1881-86), and Mayor of the city (1887-88). John Stewart Kennedy (1830-1909), financier and philanthropist, born at Blantyre, near Glasgow, gave one million dollars to the Presbyterian Hospital as his golden wedding anniversary gift, five hundred thousand dollars to Columbia University, besides innumerable gifts to other institutions. His will left over sixty-seven million dollars, nearly half of it for charitable purposes. Alexander Ector Orr (1831-1914), President of New York Rapid Transit Commission, Vice-President of many financial institutions, was of Ulster Scot descent. Thomas Fitchie (1834-1905), of Scottish parentage, was an earnest worker for purity in civil life in Brooklyn. Charles A. Lamont (1835-1904), son of Neil Lamont from Scotland, was one of the original members of the Republican Party and of the Union League prominent in city affairs. He was the originator of the Ramapo scheme of water supply for the city. Robert Maclay (b. 1836), of Scottish parentage, was President of the Knickerbocker Ice Company (1875), Commissioner of Education, Rapid Transit Commissioner, etc. Dr. Albert Prescott Marble (1836-1906), a recognized leader in educational matters, President of the Board of Superintendents of the New York Department of Education, was a descendant of one of the Scots settlers of Maine. Robert Macy Galloway (b. 1837), merchant and banker, had a considerable part in developing the elevated railroads of the city. Eugene Gilbert Blackford (1839-1904), merchant and ichthyologist, of Scottish descent, "did more to advance the interests of fish culture in this country than any other man." He wrote much on the subject and to his efforts was due the creation of the Aquarium at the Battery. Alexander Taylor, born in Leith, Scotland, in 1821, was founder of the firm of Alexander Taylor's Sons. Walter Scott, managing Director of Butler Brothers, born in Canada, of Scottish parentage, is widely known as a liberal promoter of education, art, athletics, and patriotism.
SCOTTISH SOCIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES
That the Scots in America have not been solely devoted to business and the promotion of their own selfish welfare is evidenced by the remarkable growth of their numerous Societies based upon the extension of fellowship among Scots in the New World and for the collection and distribution of charitable funds among the poor and needy of their countrymen. The oldest of these Societies, the Scots' Charitable Society of Boston, was founded January 6, 1657, with twenty-seven members. It was followed by the St. Andrew's Club of Charleston, S.C. (the first to bear the name of St. Andrew), 1729; the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia, December 7, 1749; the St. Andrew's Society of Savannah, Ga., 1750; the St. Andrew's Society of the Province, afterward of the State of New York, November 19, 1756; and the St. Andrew's Society of Albany, N.Y., November 10, 1803; until at the present time, there is no city of any size or importance in the country that does not have its St. Andrew's Society, or Burns or Caledonian Club, which serves to keep alive the memories of the home-land, to instil patriotism toward the adopted country, and to aid the distressed among their kinsfolk. There are now more than one thousand of these Societies in America, including the Order of Scottish Clans (organized, 1878) a successful fraternal, patriotic and beneficial order, with more than one hundred separate clans, and the Daughters of Scotia, a rapidly growing order for women of Scottish blood, organized in 1898.
CONCLUSION
"It is the knowledge that Scotsmen have done their share in building up the great Republic that makes them proud of its progress and inspires them to add to its glories and advantages in every way. Scotsmen, as a nationality, are everywhere spoken of as good and loyal citizens, while Americans who can trace a family residence of a century in the country are proud if they can count among their ancestors some one who hailed from the land of Burns, and it is a knowledge of all this, in turn, that makes the American Scot of to-day proud of his country's record and his citizenship and impels him to be as devoted to the new land as it was possible for him to have been to the old had he remained in it. In America, the old traditions, the old blue flag with its white cross, the old Doric, are not forgotten, but are nourished, and preserved, and honored, and spoken by Scotsmen on every side with the kindliest sentiments on the part of those to whom they are alien. Americans know and acknowledge that the traditions and flag and homely speech have long been conserved to the development of that civil and religious liberty on which the great confederation of sovereign republican States has been founded. In the United States, Sir Walter Scott has more readers and quite as enthusiastic admirers as in Scotland, and if Americans were asked which of the world's poets came nearest to their hearts, the answer would undoubtedly be—Robert Burns."
LIST OF PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES REFERRED TO
Appleton. Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York, 1887-89.
6v.
Bingham. Early History of Michigan. Lansing, 1888.
Breed. Presbyterians and the Revolution. Philadelphia, 1876.
Campbell, The Puritan in Holland, England, and America. New
York, 1892.
Casson. The Sons of Old Scotland in America. New York, 1906.
Charlton. The Making of Georgia. Savannah, 1905.
Craighead. Scotch and Irish Seeds in American Soil. Philadelphia,
1879.
Dinsmore. The Scotch-Irish in America. Chicago, 1906.
Dyer. Early American Craftsmen. New York, 1915.
Ford. The Scotch-Irish in America. Princeton, 1915.
Green. The Scotch-Irish in America. Worcester, 1895.
Hanna. The Scotch-Irish. New York, 1902. 2 v.
Harrison. The Scot in Ulster. Edinburgh, 1888.
Jones. History of Georgia. Boston, 1883.
Kelly and Burrage. American Medical Biographies. Baltimore,
1920.
Lewis. Great American Lawyers. Philadelphia, 1907-09. 8 v.
Maclean. Historical Account of the Settlements of Scottish Highlanders
in America Prior to the Peace of 1783. Cleveland, 1900.
National Cyclopædia, of American Biography. New York, 1898-1906.
16 v.
Parker. History of Londonderry, New Hampshire. Boston, 1851.
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. Edinburgh, v. 8, 9.
Reid. The Scot in America and the Ulster Scot. London, 1911.
Roberts. New York-Boston, 1904.
Ross. The Scot in America. New York, 1896.
Scotch-Irish in America. Proceeding of Scotch-Irish Congresses.
Scots Magazine. Edinburgh, 1768-1774.
Slaughter. History of Bristol Parish. Richmond, 1879.
Smith. History of the Colony of Nova Cæsaria or New Jersey.
Burlington, 1765.
Smith. History of New York. Philadelphia, 1792.
White. Southern Presbyterian Leaders. New York, 1911.
INDEX
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - Mc/Mac - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z