William C. Whitney

William Collins Whitney (July 5, 1841–February 2, 1904) was an American political leader and financier and founder of the prominent Whitney family.

Related Topics:
July 5 - 1841 - February 2 - 1904 - American - Financier - Whitney family

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William Whitney was born at Conway, Massachusetts of Puritan stock. He graduated at Yale in 1863, studied law at Harvard, and practised with success in New York City. He was an aggressive opponent of the Tweed Ring, and was actively allied with the anti-Tammany organizations, the Irving Hall Democracy of 1875-1890, and the County Democracy of 1880-1890, but upon the dissolution of the latter he became identified with Tammany.

Related Topics:
Conway, Massachusetts - Puritan - Yale - 1863 - Harvard - New York City - Tweed Ring - Tammany - Irving Hall Democracy - 1875 - 1890 - County Democracy - 1880

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He married Flora Payne, the sister of his wealthy Yale classmate Oliver Hazard Payne. They had five children:

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• Harry Payne Whitney (1872-1930)
• Pauline Payne Whitney (1874-1916)
• William Payne Whitney (1876-1927)
• Oliver Whitney (1878-1883)
• Dorothy Payne Whitney (1887-1968)

In 1875-1882, he was corporation counsel of New York, and as such brought about a codification of the laws relating to the city, and successfully contested a large part of certain claims, largely fraudulent, against the city, amounting to about $20 million, and a heritage from the Tweed regime.

Related Topics:
1882 - New York - Codification

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During President Cleveland's first administration (1885-1889), Whitney was United States Secretary of the Navy and did much to develop the United States Navy, especially by encouraging the domestic manufacture of plate armor.

Related Topics:
Cleveland - 1885 - 1889 - United States Secretary of the Navy - United States Navy - Plate armor

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In 1892, he was instrumental in bringing about the third nomination of Cleveland, and took an influential part in the ensuing presidential campaign. In 1896, however, disapproving of the "free-silver" agitation, he refused to support his party's candidate, William Jennings Bryan. Whitney took an active interest in the development of public transport in New York, and was one of the organizers of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company.

Related Topics:
1892 - Presidential campaign - 1896 - Free-silver - William Jennings Bryan - Public transport - Metropolitan Street Railway Company

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He was also interested in thoroughbred horse racing and established a racing operation with a string of race horses, competing against the successful stable of business associate, James R. Keene. In 1901, Whitney won the Epsom Derby with Volodyovski, leased by him from Lady Meux.

Related Topics:
Thoroughbred horse racing - James R. Keene - 1901 - Epsom Derby

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