Cornelius Kingsland Garrison
Encyclopedia
Cornelius Kingsland Garrison (March 1, 1809 – May 1, 1885) was a shipbuilder, capitalist, and the fifth Mayor of San Francisco (1853–1854). He was born in Fort Montgomery
, near West Point, New York
. During his childhood, he studied architecture and civil engineering
while working on his father's schooner.
After moving to Buffalo
in 1830, he worked as a builder, then moving to Canada in 1834 where he built bridges and other marine building projects. He moved to St. Louis
in 1839, where he made a fortune from owning, building, and commanding boats. He later moved to Panama
, where he worked as an agent for the Nicaraguan steamship company and also established the banking firm of Garrison, Fritz, and Ralston.
The business partnership of Morgan & Garrison, which Garrison formed with Charles Morgan
, was once the recipient of a brief and now very famous letter: "Gentlemen: You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you. Yours truly, Cornelius Vanderbilt." http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News/register/Mar11_02/story8.html http://www.stfrancis.edu/ba/ghkickul/stuwebs/bbios/biograph/vanderbi.htm
After he moved to San Francisco, he was elected mayor of that city in 1853. While he was mayor, he started the movement that led to the founding of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
. After his term as mayor, he returned to New York, where he became a speculator.
During the Civil War
, he allowed the U.S. government to use most of his ships. After the war, he bought a large interest in what later became the Missouri Pacific Railroad
, which he became president of after it was reorganized. He would also lose a lawsuit which resulted from this reorganization.
He died on May 1, 1885 in New York City of a heart attack.
Fort Montgomery, New York
Fort Montgomery is a hamlet in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census...
, near West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. During his childhood, he studied architecture and civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
while working on his father's schooner.
After moving to Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
in 1830, he worked as a builder, then moving to Canada in 1834 where he built bridges and other marine building projects. He moved to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1839, where he made a fortune from owning, building, and commanding boats. He later moved to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, where he worked as an agent for the Nicaraguan steamship company and also established the banking firm of Garrison, Fritz, and Ralston.
The business partnership of Morgan & Garrison, which Garrison formed with Charles Morgan
Charles Morgan (businessman)
Charles Morgan was a U.S. railroad and shipping magnate. Morgan played a leading role in the development of transportation and commerce in the Southern United States through the mid-to-late 19th century.-Career:...
, was once the recipient of a brief and now very famous letter: "Gentlemen: You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you. Yours truly, Cornelius Vanderbilt." http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News/register/Mar11_02/story8.html http://www.stfrancis.edu/ba/ghkickul/stuwebs/bbios/biograph/vanderbi.htm
After he moved to San Francisco, he was elected mayor of that city in 1853. While he was mayor, he started the movement that led to the founding of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
Pacific Mail Steamship Company
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company was founded April 18, 1848 as a joint stock company under the laws of the State of New York by a group of New York City merchants, William H. Aspinwall, Edwin Bartlett, Henry Chauncey, Mr. Alsop, G.G. Howland and S.S. Howland...
. After his term as mayor, he returned to New York, where he became a speculator.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he allowed the U.S. government to use most of his ships. After the war, he bought a large interest in what later became the Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
, which he became president of after it was reorganized. He would also lose a lawsuit which resulted from this reorganization.
He died on May 1, 1885 in New York City of a heart attack.