James William Beekman
Encyclopedia
James William Beekman was vice president
of the New York Hospital
.
on November 22, 1815. He was a descendent of Wilhelmus Beekman, who sailed with Peter Stuyvesant
to New Netherlands, and was an officer of the Dutch West India Company
.
He graduated from Columbia College
in 1834, and studied law with John Landis Mason, but never joined the New York Bar Association. His father died in 1833 left him with money, and the death of his uncle, James Beekman
, added to his real estate holdings on the East River
near Fifty-second street, including the Beekman mansion, "Mount Pleasant", a place of historic interest from its prominence in Revolutionary times. He married Abian Steele (1819-1897).
He was a member of the New York State Senate
(5th District) from 1850 to 1853.
In 1861 he, with Erastus Corning
and Thurlow Weed
, was appointed by a meeting of conservative men in New York to go to Washington and urge President James Buchanan
to relieve Fort Sumter
.
He was vice-president of the New York Hospital
, president of the woman's hospital, and a director of the New York dispensary.
He was also one of the early members of the New-York Historical Society
, before which he delivered a centennial discourse in 1871 and read papers at different times. On 4 December 1869, he delivered an address before the St. Nicholas Society on "The Founders of New York," which was afterward published (New York, 1870). See "Memoir of James William Beekman," by Edward F. De Lancey (New York, 1877).
In February 1876, he published a report on a village of hospitals. He died in 1877 and was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery
.
is a registered landmark in Oyster Bay, New York, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the New York Hospital
New York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
.
Biography
He was born in New York CityNew 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...
on November 22, 1815. He was a descendent of Wilhelmus Beekman, who sailed with Peter Stuyvesant
Peter Stuyvesant
Peter Stuyvesant , served as the last Dutch Director-General of the colony of New Netherland from 1647 until it was ceded provisionally to the English in 1664, after which it was renamed New York...
to New Netherlands, and was an officer of the Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
.
He graduated from Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in 1834, and studied law with John Landis Mason, but never joined the New York Bar Association. His father died in 1833 left him with money, and the death of his uncle, James Beekman
James Beekman
-Mount Pleasant:He is best remembered for his mansion, known as Mount Pleasant, which he built in Manhattan on the East River in 1763, near the northwest corner of 1st Avenue and East 51st Street...
, added to his real estate holdings on the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
near Fifty-second street, including the Beekman mansion, "Mount Pleasant", a place of historic interest from its prominence in Revolutionary times. He married Abian Steele (1819-1897).
He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
(5th District) from 1850 to 1853.
In 1861 he, with Erastus Corning
Erastus Corning
Erastus Corning I , American businessman and politician, was born in Norwich, Connecticut. Corning moved to Troy, New York at the age of 13 to clerk in the hardware store of an uncle; six years later he moved to Albany, New York, where he joined the mercantile business under James Spencer...
and Thurlow Weed
Thurlow Weed
Thurlow Weed was a New York newspaper publisher, politician, and party boss. He was the principal political advisor to the prominent New York politician William H...
, was appointed by a meeting of conservative men in New York to go to Washington and urge President James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
to relieve Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
.
He was vice-president of the New York Hospital
New York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
, president of the woman's hospital, and a director of the New York dispensary.
He was also one of the early members of the New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
The New-York Historical Society is an American history museum and library located in New York City at the corner of 77th Street and Central Park West in Manhattan. Founded in 1804 as New York's first museum, the New-York Historical Society presents exhibitions, public programs and research that...
, before which he delivered a centennial discourse in 1871 and read papers at different times. On 4 December 1869, he delivered an address before the St. Nicholas Society on "The Founders of New York," which was afterward published (New York, 1870). See "Memoir of James William Beekman," by Edward F. De Lancey (New York, 1877).
In February 1876, he published a report on a village of hospitals. He died in 1877 and was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
.
Legacy
The James William Beekman HouseJames William Beekman House
James William Beekman House, also known as "The Cliffs," is a historic home located at Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York. It was designed by noted English architect Henry G. Harrison in 1863 and built for New York Hospital vice-president James William Beekman...
is a registered landmark in Oyster Bay, New York, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
Further reading
- New York Times; June 16, 1877, Wednesday; Obituary.
- New York Times; June 20, 1877, Wednesday; Funeral for Mr. Beekman.
- Findagrave: James William Beekman
- James William Beekman in the 1850 US Census