Otis family
Encyclopedia
The Otis family is a Boston Brahmin
family from Massachusetts best known for its involvement in early American politics. Originally landowning farmers of Glastonbury
, Somerset
, the Otises went to New England
during the Puritan migration of the 1630's settling first in Hingham
before finally moving to Barnstable
. It was there that John Otis built a homestead that served many members of the family for generations. Although not much is known about John Otis, his son, John Otis (generally referred to as "Judge Otis") was the first of the family to rise to provincial eminence. Judge Otis held a variety of judicial and military appointments and represented Barnstable
County for twenty successive years in the general court of Massachusetts Bay
. In 1708, he was chosen a member of Her Majesty's Council (at the time, the highest position a native could achieve) and was annually reelected until his death in 1727. He left six children, of whom the following are descendants:
Boston Brahmin
Boston Brahmins are wealthy Yankee families characterized by a highly discreet and inconspicuous life style. Based in and around Boston, they form an integral part of the historic core of the East Coast establishment...
family from Massachusetts best known for its involvement in early American politics. Originally landowning farmers of Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, the Otises went to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
during the Puritan migration of the 1630's settling first in Hingham
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
before finally moving to Barnstable
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
. It was there that John Otis built a homestead that served many members of the family for generations. Although not much is known about John Otis, his son, John Otis (generally referred to as "Judge Otis") was the first of the family to rise to provincial eminence. Judge Otis held a variety of judicial and military appointments and represented Barnstable
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
County for twenty successive years in the general court of Massachusetts Bay
Massachusetts Bay
The Massachusetts Bay, also called Mass Bay, is one of the largest bays of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the distinctive shape of the coastline of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Its waters extend 65 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Massachusetts Bay includes the Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay,...
. In 1708, he was chosen a member of Her Majesty's Council (at the time, the highest position a native could achieve) and was annually reelected until his death in 1727. He left six children, of whom the following are descendants:
- James Otis, Sr.James Otis, Sr.James Otis, Sr. was a prominent lawyer in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. His sons James Otis, Jr. and Samuel Allyne Otis also rose to prominence, as did his daughter Mercy Otis Warren...
(1702-1778), prominent colonial lawyer, Attorney General of the Massachusetts Bay Province, Colonel Massachusetts Militia.- James Otis, Jr.James Otis, Jr.James Otis, Jr. was a lawyer in colonial Massachusetts, a member of the Massachusetts provincial assembly, and an early advocate of the political views that led to the American Revolution. The phrase "Taxation without Representation is Tyranny" is usually attributed to him...
(1725-1783), prominent lawyer and patriot. - Mercy Otis WarrenMercy Otis WarrenMercy Otis Warren was a political writer and propagandist of the American Revolution. In the eighteenth century, topics such as politics and war were thought to be the province of men. Few women had the education or training to write about these subjects. Warren was the exception...
(1728-1814), American writer and playwright. Known as the "Conscience of the American Revolution". - Samuel Allyne OtisSamuel Allyne OtisSamuel A. Otis , a Delegate from Massachusetts; born in Barnstable, Barnstable County, Mass., November 24, 1740; was graduated from Harvard College in 1759; engaged in mercantile pursuits in Boston; member of the state house...
(1740-1814), Speaker of the Massachusetts General Court; Representative to the Second Continental Congress; First Secretary of the United States Senate; Son of James Otis, Sr.James Otis, Sr.James Otis, Sr. was a prominent lawyer in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. His sons James Otis, Jr. and Samuel Allyne Otis also rose to prominence, as did his daughter Mercy Otis Warren...
and father of Harrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray Otis (lawyer)Harrison Gray Otis , was a businessman, lawyer, and politician, becoming one of the most important leaders of the United States' first political party, the Federalists...
.- Harrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray Otis (lawyer)Harrison Gray Otis , was a businessman, lawyer, and politician, becoming one of the most important leaders of the United States' first political party, the Federalists...
(1765-1848), U.S. Senator from Massachusetts; Third Mayor of Boston; U.S. Representative from Massachusetts; Massachusetts District Attorney; Son of Samuel Allyne OtisSamuel Allyne OtisSamuel A. Otis , a Delegate from Massachusetts; born in Barnstable, Barnstable County, Mass., November 24, 1740; was graduated from Harvard College in 1759; engaged in mercantile pursuits in Boston; member of the state house...
.
- Harrison Gray Otis
- James Otis, Jr.
- Harrison Gray Otis (publisher) (1837-1917), Publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Brigadier General United States Army, delegate to the Republican National Convention 1860. Married Eliza Ann OtisEliza Ann OtisEliza Ann Wetherby Otis was a Los Angeles philanthropist and a writer for the Los Angeles Times. As a member of the staff at the Times working at such departments as "Woman and Home" and "Our Boys and Girls."-Biography:...
.- Marian Otis ChandlerMarian Otis ChandlerMarian Otis Chandler was the secretary and a director of the Times-Mirror Company, which published the Los Angeles Times.-Biography:...
(1866-1952), Born Emma Marian Otis. Was the daughter of General Harrison Gray Otis and Secretary of the Times-Mirror Company (formerly the publishing company of the Los Angeles Times). Married Harry ChandlerHarry ChandlerHarry Chandler was an American newspaper publisher and investor who became owner of the largest real estate empire in the U.S.-Biography:...
.- Norman ChandlerNorman ChandlerNorman Chandler was the publisher of the Los Angeles Times from 1945 to 1960, and largely responsible for the success of the newspaper.-Education:...
(1899-1973), Publisher of the Los Angeles Times. Grandson of Harrison Gray Otis.- Otis ChandlerOtis ChandlerOtis Chandler was the publisher of the Los Angeles Times between 1960 and 1980, leading a large expansion of the newspaper and its ambitions...
(1927-2006), Publisher of the Los Angeles Times (1960 and 1980) and great-grandson of Harrison Gray Otis
- Otis Chandler
- Norman Chandler
- Marian Otis Chandler
- Elwell Stephen OtisElwell Stephen OtisElwell Stephen Otis was a United States of America General who served in the Philippines late in the Spanish-American War and during the Philippine-American War.-Biography:...
(1838-1909), United States of America General who served in the Philippines late in the Spanish-American War and during the Philippine-American War. - Elisha OtisElisha OtisElisha Graves Otis was an American industrialist, founder of the Otis Elevator Company, and inventor of a safety device that prevents elevators from falling if the hoisting cable fails. He worked on this device while living in Yonkers, New York in 1852, and had a finished product in...
(1811-1861), founder of Otis Elevator CompanyOtis Elevator CompanyThe Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems today, principally focusing on elevators and escalators...
, inventor of safety device that prevented elevators from falling if hoisting cable broke. - Samuel Eliot MorisonSamuel Eliot MorisonSamuel Eliot Morison, Rear Admiral, United States Naval Reserve was an American historian noted for his works of maritime history that were both authoritative and highly readable. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1912, and taught history at the university for 40 years...
(1887-1976) Rear Admiral, United States Naval Reserve; Prominent American historian; received numerous honors including two Pulitzer Prizes, two Bancroft Prizes, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Descendant of U.S. Senator and lawyer Harrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray Otis (lawyer)Harrison Gray Otis , was a businessman, lawyer, and politician, becoming one of the most important leaders of the United States' first political party, the Federalists...
. - Franklin Otis Booth, Jr. (1923-2008), Billionaire Los Angeles Times executive and Berkshire Hathaway investor. Great-grandson of Gen. Harrison Gray Otis.
- Montgomery Harrison Wadsworth RitchieMontie RitchieMontgomery Harrison Wadsworth Ritchie , known as Montie Ritchie, was a dual British subject and American citizen who became a leading cattle rancher and businessman in the Texas Panhandle during the 20th century. From 1935-1993, he was the manager of his family-owned JA Ranch southeast of Amarillo...
(1910-1999), Businessman and cattle rancher. Descendant of Harrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray Otis (lawyer)Harrison Gray Otis , was a businessman, lawyer, and politician, becoming one of the most important leaders of the United States' first political party, the Federalists...
. - Robert H. ThayerRobert H. ThayerRobert Helyer Thayer was an American lawyer, naval officer and diplomat.-Early life:Thayer was born in Southborough, Massachusetts, the son of Rev. William Greenough Thayer , headmaster of St. Mark's School from 1894–1930, and Violet Otis Thayer . He attended St...
(1901-1984), U.S. Minister to RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
1955-1957, delegate to the Republican National Convention 1936, candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 1946. Great-great-great-grandson of Samuel Allyne Otis. - John OtisJohn Otis (Maine)John Otis was a U.S. Representative from Maine.Born in Leeds, Maine, Otis attended the common schools, and was graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, in 1823.He studied law....
(1801-1856), MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
State Representative 1841 1846-1847, Maine State Senator 1842, U.S. Representative from Maine 1849-1851. Second cousin twice removed of Samuel Allyne Otis. - James OtisJames Otis (politician)James Otis was a politician from San Francisco. James Otis was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 11, 1826 Otis then moved to San Francisco for the 1849 California Gold Rush. Otis then became an importer and exporter in San Francisco. He then became a member of the Board of Supervisors in...
(1826-1875), Mayor of San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
1873-1875. Second cousin twice removed of Samuel Allyne Otis. - John G. OtisJohn G. OtisJohn Grant Otis was a U.S. Representative from Kansas.Born near Danby, Vermont, Otis pursued an academic course at Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vermont....
(1838-1916), U.S. Representative from Kansas 1891-1893. Son of Harris F. Otis. - Norton P. OtisNorton P. OtisNorton Prentiss Otis was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Halifax, Vermont, Otis attended public schools of Halifax, Vermont, and Albany, Hudson, and Yonkers, New York....
(1840-1905), Mayor of Yonkers, New YorkYonkers, New YorkYonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
1880-1882; New York Assemblyman 1884; candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 1900; U.S. Representative from New York 1903-1905. Second cousin thrice removed of Samuel Allyne Otis. - Amelia EarhartAmelia EarhartAmelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
(1897-1937), noted American aviation pioneer, and author.
Affiliated U.S. Cities & Institutions
- Otis, MassachusettsOtis, MassachusettsOtis is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,365 at the 2000 census....
, Officially incorporated in 1810, the town was created when the unincorporated town of Loudon annexed the adjacent District of Bethlehem in 1809. It was named after Harrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray Otis (lawyer)Harrison Gray Otis , was a businessman, lawyer, and politician, becoming one of the most important leaders of the United States' first political party, the Federalists...
, an influential lawyer, financier, and politician in revolutionary Massachusetts. - East Otis, MassachusettsEast Otis, MassachusettsEast Otis is part of the town of Otis in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, East Otis had a total population of 572.- Geography :According to the United States Census Bureau, East Otis has a total area of 14.12 mi²...
, part of the town of Otis, Massachusetts. Otis ReservoirOtis ReservoirOtis Reservoir is a reservoir located primarily in Otis, Massachusetts. Small portions are also in Tolland, MA, and Blandford, MA. The lake is popular for boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing, snowmobiling, camping, and water-related recreation. Fish include lake trout, bass, white perch,...
is located primarily within its limits. - Harrison, MaineHarrison, MaineHarrison is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,315 at the 2000 census. A historic resort area, Harrison straddles Long Lake and Crystal Lake...
, Incorporated March 8, 1805, it was named after principal landowner, Harrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray Otis (lawyer)Harrison Gray Otis , was a businessman, lawyer, and politician, becoming one of the most important leaders of the United States' first political party, the Federalists...
of Boston, the heir of James OtisJames OtisJames Otis may refer to:*James Otis, Sr. , Massachusetts lawyer and public official*James Otis, Jr. , American revolutionary politician from Massachusetts...
. - Otisfield, MaineOtisfield, MaineOtisfield is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,560 at the 2000 census. Otisfield is a summer recreation area and home to Seeds of Peace Camp and Camp Arcadia.-History:...
, Granted by the Massachusetts General Court on June 15, 1771 to James Otis, Nathaniel Gorham and other descendants of Captain John Gorham and certain members of his company who had fought in the 1690 Battle of Quebec. - Otis, MaineOtis, MaineOtis is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 543 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:...
, A town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 543 at the 2000 census. - Otis ReservoirOtis ReservoirOtis Reservoir is a reservoir located primarily in Otis, Massachusetts. Small portions are also in Tolland, MA, and Blandford, MA. The lake is popular for boating, swimming, fishing, water skiing, snowmobiling, camping, and water-related recreation. Fish include lake trout, bass, white perch,...
, a 1,085 acre reservoir located primarily in Otis, Massachusetts. - Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California and distributed throughout the Western United States. It is the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States and the fourth-most widely distributed newspaper in the United States. Army General Harrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray Otis was the president and general manager of the Times-Mirror Company, publisher of the Los Angeles Times.-Early life:...
bought the paper in 1884 to form the Times-Mirror Company which eventually merged with the Tribune CompanyTribune CompanyThe Tribune Company is a large American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, with ten daily newspapers and commuter tabloids including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida...
in 2000. - Otis Elevator CompanyOtis Elevator CompanyThe Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems today, principally focusing on elevators and escalators...
, is the world's largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems today, principally elevators and escalators. Founded in Yonkers, New York, USA in 1853 by Elisha OtisElisha OtisElisha Graves Otis was an American industrialist, founder of the Otis Elevator Company, and inventor of a safety device that prevents elevators from falling if the hoisting cable fails. He worked on this device while living in Yonkers, New York in 1852, and had a finished product in...
, the company pioneered the development of the safety elevator, invented by Otis, which used a special mechanism to lock the elevator car in place should the hoisting ropes fail. - Otis Air National Guard BaseOtis Air National Guard BaseOtis Air National Guard Base is an Air National Guard installation located within the Massachusetts Military Reservation , a military training facility, located on the western portion of Cape Cod, in western Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States...
, is an Air National Guard installation located within the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), a military training facility, located on the upper western portion of Cape Cod, bordering the towns of Bourne, Falmouth and Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. - Otis College of Art and DesignOtis College of Art and DesignOtis College of Art and Design is an art and design college in Los Angeles, California.The school's programs, accredited by WASC and National Association of Schools of Art and Design, include four-year BFA degrees in illustration, fine arts, graphic design, architecture, landscape design, interior...
, has been long considered one of the major art institutions in California. Otis began in 1918, when Los Angeles Times founder Harrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray Otis was the president and general manager of the Times-Mirror Company, publisher of the Los Angeles Times.-Early life:...
bequeathed his MacArthur Park property to start the first public, independent professional school of art in Southern California. - Harrison Gray Otis HouseHarrison Gray Otis HouseThere are three houses named the Harrison Gray Otis House in Boston, Massachusetts. All were built by noted American architect Charles Bulfinch for the same man, Harrison Gray Otis.-First Harrison Gray Otis House:...
, There are three houses named the Harrison Gray Otis House that were designed by Charles BulfinchCharles BulfinchCharles Bulfinch was an early American architect, and has been regarded by many as the first native-born American to practice architecture as a profession....
for politician Harrison Gray OtisHarrison Gray Otis (lawyer)Harrison Gray Otis , was a businessman, lawyer, and politician, becoming one of the most important leaders of the United States' first political party, the Federalists...
.