John Cox Stevens
Encyclopedia
John Cox Stevens is best known for founding and serving as the first Commodore of the New York Yacht Club
as well as being a member of the America
syndicate which won the first America's Cup
trophy in 1851.
Stevens graduated from Columbia University
in 1803. He married Maria C. Livingston on December 27, 1809. The sporting son in the family, he built a series of yachts. In 1844, on board his yacht, Gimcrack, he was named Commodore of the New York Yacht Club
which he and nine others had just proposed forming.
Stevens once served as president of The Jockey Club
and setup the 1823 Great North-South Match. The race stoked sectional tensions when the Northern horse, "American Eclipse
," defeated the southern colt, "Sir Henry". The northern victory encouraged a northern enthusiasm for horse racing but embarrassed southerners with their pretensions of superiority in breeding, training, and racing horses. He was also a founding member of New York's oldest gentlemen's society, the Union Club. He introduced Cricket
to the United States
He ran the company which had the first steam ferry
between Hoboken, New Jersey
and New York City
.
His father, Col. John Stevens
was a revolutionary war veteran, pioneer in steamboats, and purchaser of what is now Hoboken. His mother was Rachel Cox from New Brunswick, New Jersey
. He was the eldest son. His brother Robert L. Stevens was a businessman and inventor. Another brother Edwin Augustus Stevens founded Stevens Institute of Technology
, and later was also a Commodore at the NYCC.
Stevens was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame
in 1994.
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
as well as being a member of the America
America (yacht)
The America was a 19th century racing yacht that was the first to win the eponymous international sailing trophy now known as the America's Cup; in 1851 the trophy was known as the Royal Yacht Squadron's "One Hundred Guinea Cup", but was later renamed after the original winning yacht...
syndicate which won the first America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
trophy in 1851.
Stevens graduated from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1803. He married Maria C. Livingston on December 27, 1809. The sporting son in the family, he built a series of yachts. In 1844, on board his yacht, Gimcrack, he was named Commodore of the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
which he and nine others had just proposed forming.
Stevens once served as president of The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
and setup the 1823 Great North-South Match. The race stoked sectional tensions when the Northern horse, "American Eclipse
American Eclipse
American Eclipse was an undefeated American Thoroughbred racehorse, who raced when three to four mile heats were common.-Breeding:...
," defeated the southern colt, "Sir Henry". The northern victory encouraged a northern enthusiasm for horse racing but embarrassed southerners with their pretensions of superiority in breeding, training, and racing horses. He was also a founding member of New York's oldest gentlemen's society, the Union Club. He introduced Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
He ran the company which had the first steam ferry
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
between Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
and 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...
.
His father, Col. John Stevens
John Stevens (inventor)
Col. John Stevens, III was an American lawyer, engineer and an inventor.-Life and career:Born the son of John Stevens , a prominent New Jersey politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, and Elizabeth Alexander, daughter of New York lawyer and statesman James Alexander. His...
was a revolutionary war veteran, pioneer in steamboats, and purchaser of what is now Hoboken. His mother was Rachel Cox from New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
. He was the eldest son. His brother Robert L. Stevens was a businessman and inventor. Another brother Edwin Augustus Stevens founded Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
, and later was also a Commodore at the NYCC.
Stevens was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame
America's Cup Hall of Fame
The America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition...
in 1994.