Edwin A. McAlpin
Encyclopedia
General Edwin Augustus McAlpin (June 9, 1848 - April 12, 1917) was president of the D.H. McAlpin & Co., a tobacco manufacturer. He built the Hotel McAlpin
in New York City, at the time the largest hotel in the world. He had an active military career in the New York National Guard and was appointed Adjutant General
by the Governor. He was president of the American Boy Scouts and the mayor of Ossining, New York.
, a prominent tobacco manufacturer in New York City
, and Adelaide Rose McAlpin, in Ossining, New York. McAlpin attended public school for a time, then graduated from Phillips Academy
in Andover, Massachusetts
in 1861. Following his graduation, McAlpin joined his father’s company, D. H. McAlpin & Co. With the outbreak of hostilities, McAlpin enlisted in the Civil War as a drummer boy , but his father rescinded the action due to his youth at age 17.
After the end of the war, he was old enough to enlist in his own right and in 1869 joined the 7th Regiment of the New York Militia, (later the New York Guard) with the rank of Private.
In 1874 McAlpin attained the rank of First Lieutenant in the 71st Infantry Regiment (New York)
where he was promoted in 1885 to Colonel, a role he retained until his military retirement in 1887. McAlpin had inherited a disorganized and dispirited regiment which was in danger of being disbanded by the State of New York. He aggressively cut dead wood from the ranks and reorganized the officer ranks to the extent that the "Army and Navy Journal" called it on July 18, 1885 "...virtually a new regiment, so much has its personnel changed during the past six months..." The Journal placed the credit squarely on McAlpin's shoulders writing, "Colonel Edwin A. McAlpin, the but recently elected commander, has certainly developed energy, pluck and good sense in the management of his organization, which has, in turn, been followed by most encouraging results..."
After retiring from the service he was appointed Adjutant General of the State by Governor Levi P. Morton
, in 1895 with the rank of Major General. In this role he deployed his units to suppress several disorders in the New York City vicinity, but saw no formal combat.
proprietor of the then-famous “Brandreth Vegetable Universal Pills” from which he had amassed a large fortune. The wedding took place at Trinity Episcopal Church in Ossining and was officiated by Rev. Clarence Buel. Also in that year he was admitted as a partner in his father's firm, the D.H. McAlpin & Co tobacco company.
In 1895 the couple celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at their house in Ossining, NY, dubbed “Hillside House”. As befitted a prominent person at that time, the couple chartered a train to bring guests from New York City and return them at the end of the evening. "Hillside" was reported by the New York Times to be '...one of the show places of the Hudson River section'. Consisting of 27 rooms on a landscaped plot of 6 acres (24,281.2 m²), the house had 10 baths, large stables, a garage, some greenhouses, and a commanding view of the Hudson River
. McAlpin purchased the house in 1883 and his son, Colonel Benjamin Brandreth McAlpin sold it in February 1928 to the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire
who had plans to use the property as a retirement home for members of the British Empire in the area. Victoria Home, as the home was and is known, opened on 24 November 1928 with 22 residents. In January, 1932 the Home completed a $92,000 expansion which provided room for a total of 41 residents.
in the 1896 election. From 1889-1892 he was President of the Republican League of New York. He held several local offices in his home at Ossining, including:
. In the lobby of the hotel stood a wooden Indian which once stood outside the family’s tobacco store on Catherine Street in Manhattan; the predecessor to the large tobacco concern which eventually became the D.H. McAlpin & Co. tobacco company.
McAlpin was active in several businesses during his life including:
On 12 August 1911 Gen. McAlpin was elected President and Chief Scout of the American Boy Scouts, an early Scouting organization.
in Ossining.
General McAlpin left five sons:
Hotel McAlpin
The Hotel McAlpin was constructed in 1912 on Herald Square, at the corner of Broadway and 34th street in Manhattan, New York City by General Edwin A. McAlpin, son of David Hunter McAlpin. When opened it was the largest hotel in the world. The hotel was designed by the noted architect Frank Mills...
in New York City, at the time the largest hotel in the world. He had an active military career in the New York National Guard and was appointed Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
by the Governor. He was president of the American Boy Scouts and the mayor of Ossining, New York.
Military career
General McAlpin was born June 9, 1848, the son of David Hunter McAlpinDavid Hunter McAlpin
David Hunter McAlpin was a prominent industrialist and real estate owner in New York City. He owned the D.H. McAlpin Tobacco Company. Among his children was a Civil War General and a prominent physician.-Early life:...
, a prominent tobacco manufacturer in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Adelaide Rose McAlpin, in Ossining, New York. McAlpin attended public school for a time, then graduated from Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
in Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
in 1861. Following his graduation, McAlpin joined his father’s company, D. H. McAlpin & Co. With the outbreak of hostilities, McAlpin enlisted in the Civil War as a drummer boy , but his father rescinded the action due to his youth at age 17.
After the end of the war, he was old enough to enlist in his own right and in 1869 joined the 7th Regiment of the New York Militia, (later the New York Guard) with the rank of Private.
In 1874 McAlpin attained the rank of First Lieutenant in the 71st Infantry Regiment (New York)
71st Infantry Regiment (New York)
The 71st Infantry Regiment is an organization of the New York State Guard. Formerly, the 71st Infantry was a regiment of the New York State Militia and then the Army National Guard from 1850 to 1993.-Foundation:...
where he was promoted in 1885 to Colonel, a role he retained until his military retirement in 1887. McAlpin had inherited a disorganized and dispirited regiment which was in danger of being disbanded by the State of New York. He aggressively cut dead wood from the ranks and reorganized the officer ranks to the extent that the "Army and Navy Journal" called it on July 18, 1885 "...virtually a new regiment, so much has its personnel changed during the past six months..." The Journal placed the credit squarely on McAlpin's shoulders writing, "Colonel Edwin A. McAlpin, the but recently elected commander, has certainly developed energy, pluck and good sense in the management of his organization, which has, in turn, been followed by most encouraging results..."
After retiring from the service he was appointed Adjutant General of the State by Governor Levi P. Morton
Levi P. Morton
Levi Parsons Morton was a Representative from New York and the 22nd Vice President of the United States . He also later served as the 31st Governor of New York.-Biography:...
, in 1895 with the rank of Major General. In this role he deployed his units to suppress several disorders in the New York City vicinity, but saw no formal combat.
Personal life
On October 27, 1870, he married Anne Brandreth, daughter of Benjamin BrandrethBenjamin Brandreth
Benjamin Brandreth was a pioneer in the early use of mass advertising to build consumer awareness of his product, a purgative that allegedly cured many ills by purging toxins out of the blood...
proprietor of the then-famous “Brandreth Vegetable Universal Pills” from which he had amassed a large fortune. The wedding took place at Trinity Episcopal Church in Ossining and was officiated by Rev. Clarence Buel. Also in that year he was admitted as a partner in his father's firm, the D.H. McAlpin & Co tobacco company.
In 1895 the couple celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at their house in Ossining, NY, dubbed “Hillside House”. As befitted a prominent person at that time, the couple chartered a train to bring guests from New York City and return them at the end of the evening. "Hillside" was reported by the New York Times to be '...one of the show places of the Hudson River section'. Consisting of 27 rooms on a landscaped plot of 6 acres (24,281.2 m²), the house had 10 baths, large stables, a garage, some greenhouses, and a commanding view of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. McAlpin purchased the house in 1883 and his son, Colonel Benjamin Brandreth McAlpin sold it in February 1928 to the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire
Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire
The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire is a women's charitable organization based in Canada. The club was originally titled the "Federation of Daughters of the British Empire", which was founded by Margaret Clark Murray in 1900...
who had plans to use the property as a retirement home for members of the British Empire in the area. Victoria Home, as the home was and is known, opened on 24 November 1928 with 22 residents. In January, 1932 the Home completed a $92,000 expansion which provided room for a total of 41 residents.
Political activities
He was an active worker in the Republican Party and ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 1884. For many years he was treasurer of the Republican Campaign Committee. He was a potential Vice Presidential candidate alongside William McKinleyWilliam McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
in the 1896 election. From 1889-1892 he was President of the Republican League of New York. He held several local offices in his home at Ossining, including:
- Village trustee from 1886–98,
- Village President 1889
- Postmaster 1889-1893
Business life
General McAlpin owned several large tracts of real estate in Manhattan, inherited from his father. One tract on 34th Street and Broadway was developed into the Hotel McAlpinHotel McAlpin
The Hotel McAlpin was constructed in 1912 on Herald Square, at the corner of Broadway and 34th street in Manhattan, New York City by General Edwin A. McAlpin, son of David Hunter McAlpin. When opened it was the largest hotel in the world. The hotel was designed by the noted architect Frank Mills...
. In the lobby of the hotel stood a wooden Indian which once stood outside the family’s tobacco store on Catherine Street in Manhattan; the predecessor to the large tobacco concern which eventually became the D.H. McAlpin & Co. tobacco company.
- President D.H. McAlpin & Co (tobacco)
- President Manhattan Hotel Co
- Vice-President Eleventh Ward Bank
- Vice-president Standard Gaslight Co of New York
- Director, Mutual Bank
- Director Morton Trust Co.
- Trustee Board of Trade and Transportation
- Member Chamber of Commerce
Civic involvement
McAlpin was active in a number of civic organizations including:- President, Ossining Hospital and Dispensary
- President, YMCA
- Trustee First Presbyterian Church in Ossining
On 12 August 1911 Gen. McAlpin was elected President and Chief Scout of the American Boy Scouts, an early Scouting organization.
Death and children
General McAlpin died at 2pm on April 12, 1917 at his home in Ossining of a cerebral hemorrhage. He is buried at the family vault located at the Dale CemeteryDale Cemetery
The Dale Cemetery located in Ossining, New York is a town-owned cemetery encompassing and has been operational since October 1851.-Description:...
in Ossining.
General McAlpin left five sons:
- Colonel Benjamin Brandreth McAlpin
- Reverend Edwin A. McAlpin
- J. Roderick McAlpin
- Kenneth R. McAlpin
- David Hunter McAlpin 2nd