Robert Bowne Minturn
Encyclopedia
Robert Bowne Minturn was one of the most prominent American merchants and shippers of the mid-19th century. Today, he is probably best known as being one of the owners of the famous clipper ship, Flying Cloud.
It appears that Robert Minturn's grandfather, William Minturn (Sr.) (born Rhode Island
, 18 March 1738; died Newport, Rhode Island
, 23 August 1799), was one of the residents of Rhode Island who feared that the British would attempt to re-take their lost colonies after the American Revolution
and moved his family and business to New York, believing it would be more protected from seaborne attack. He was one of the founders of Hudson, New York. In 1791 William again moved, this time to New York City, where the opportunities were greater (and shipping distances shorter). Soon he became wealthy: he, his son, grandson, and great grandson all garnered listings in the Encyclopedia of American Wealth. In 1799, his health failing, William Minturn returned to Rhode Island to retire but he died within the month. His widow (Penelope Greene, born 21 August 1746; died 6 April 1821, the daughter of Benjamin Greene and Niobe Paul and a cousin of General Nathanael Greene
) returned to New York where she lived among her sons on Pearl Street.
Robert B. Minturn married Anna Mary Wendell (born ca. 1811) in June 1835. She was the daughter of John Lansing Wendell, a partner in Grinnell, Minturn & Co. Robert's sister Sarah married Henry Grinnell
, who later became Robert's business partner.
in 1822. In 1832, the firm was reorganized as Grinnell, Minturn & Co
., or simply Grinnell & Minturn. That company was already established in the transatlantic packet trade, but it grew tremendously as the Great Irish Famine (1845-1849) led many to emigrate to North America. When the California gold rush caused a large increase in traffic to that state, Grinnell & Minturn established a shipping line to serve the market, and bought the Flying Cloud for that line; Robert Minturn actually owned a portion of the ship in his personal capacity. The success of Grinnell & Minturn made Robert Minturn a wealthy man, and his son Robert, Jr., joined the firm as well.
Robert Minturn declined all offers of public office, except the post of commissioner of emigration, which he accepted from a wish to secure the rights of emigrants. It seems unsurprising that his business prospered from the transportation of many immigrants to the United States. He was an active manager of many charitable associations in New York city, aided in establishing the Association for improving the condition of the poor, and was a founder of St. Luke's hospital. He was the first president of the Union League
Club, which was formed when the Union Club membership was divided over support for President Lincoln and the Civil War.
Robert Bowne Minturn and his wife donated land for the establishment of New York's Central Park
, having been inspired by the beauty of foreign cities and their parks, as seen during his family's trip abroad in 1848-49. Like his Quaker forebears, he was opposed to slavery. He is reported to have purchased a number of slaves for the purpose of setting them free, and he was a benefactor of the Freedmen's Association.
(born New York, 21 February 1836); graduated from Columbia in 1856 and joined the family firm soon thereafter. He married Sarah Susannah Shaw (1839–1926), sister of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw
; he was the author of New York to Delhi (New York, 1858). Minturn, Colorado
, is named for him.
Susan Carter Minturn (born New York, ca. 1837); she married Thomas Baring in 1859.
John Wendell Minturn (born New York, ca. 1838).
Anna Mary Minturn (born New York, 16 March 1841); she married Rev. Charles Penrose Quicke.
Edith Minturn (born New York, 27 March 1844)
Sarah Minturn (born New York, ca. 1845).
Eliza Theodora Minturn (born New York, 15 October 1850).
William Minturn (born New York ca. 1854).
Another descendant is Edie Sedgwick
, his great-great-granddaughter.
Family
He was born to a family long prominent in New England and New York shipping circles. His father was William Minturn (Jr.) (1776–1818); his mother was Sarah Bowne. William was "a well-known merchant shipper" and was one of the founders of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of New York. He is reported to have spent several years in the China trade, where there were enormous profits to be made. He was at various times in partnership with his brother Jonas and in the firm of Minturn and Champlin. After the failure of Minturn & Champlin, he took ill and died soon after, when Robert was in his early teens.It appears that Robert Minturn's grandfather, William Minturn (Sr.) (born Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, 18 March 1738; died Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, 23 August 1799), was one of the residents of Rhode Island who feared that the British would attempt to re-take their lost colonies after the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and moved his family and business to New York, believing it would be more protected from seaborne attack. He was one of the founders of Hudson, New York. In 1791 William again moved, this time to New York City, where the opportunities were greater (and shipping distances shorter). Soon he became wealthy: he, his son, grandson, and great grandson all garnered listings in the Encyclopedia of American Wealth. In 1799, his health failing, William Minturn returned to Rhode Island to retire but he died within the month. His widow (Penelope Greene, born 21 August 1746; died 6 April 1821, the daughter of Benjamin Greene and Niobe Paul and a cousin of General Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
) returned to New York where she lived among her sons on Pearl Street.
Robert B. Minturn married Anna Mary Wendell (born ca. 1811) in June 1835. She was the daughter of John Lansing Wendell, a partner in Grinnell, Minturn & Co. Robert's sister Sarah married Henry Grinnell
Henry Grinnell
Henry Grinnell was an American merchant and philanthropist.-Career:In 1818, Grinnell moved to New York City where he became a clerk in the commission house of H.D. & E.B. Sewell. He married Sarah Minturn in 1822. In 1825, Henry joined his brother Joseph Grinnell in Fish, Grinnell & Company...
, who later became Robert's business partner.
Career
Robert Minturn received an English education, but he was forced by the death of his father to leave school; at the age of fourteen, he began work in a counting-house. He was received into partnership in 1825 with Charles Green, whose clerk he had been. In 1830, he entered the firm of Fish and Grinnell; his sister Sarah had married partner Henry GrinnellHenry Grinnell
Henry Grinnell was an American merchant and philanthropist.-Career:In 1818, Grinnell moved to New York City where he became a clerk in the commission house of H.D. & E.B. Sewell. He married Sarah Minturn in 1822. In 1825, Henry joined his brother Joseph Grinnell in Fish, Grinnell & Company...
in 1822. In 1832, the firm was reorganized as Grinnell, Minturn & Co
Grinnell, Minturn & Co
Grinnell, Minturn & Co. was one of the leading transatlantic shipping companies in the middle 19th century. It is probably best known today as being the owner and operator of the Flying Cloud, arguably the greatest of the clipper ships.-History:...
., or simply Grinnell & Minturn. That company was already established in the transatlantic packet trade, but it grew tremendously as the Great Irish Famine (1845-1849) led many to emigrate to North America. When the California gold rush caused a large increase in traffic to that state, Grinnell & Minturn established a shipping line to serve the market, and bought the Flying Cloud for that line; Robert Minturn actually owned a portion of the ship in his personal capacity. The success of Grinnell & Minturn made Robert Minturn a wealthy man, and his son Robert, Jr., joined the firm as well.
Other activities
In May 1848 (according to a memoir published by his son), an overworked Robert Minturn and his family took an eighteen-month grand tour of England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Jerusalem, and Egypt. He was inspired by both the beauty of the cities and the charitable efforts of their citizens in this regard.Robert Minturn declined all offers of public office, except the post of commissioner of emigration, which he accepted from a wish to secure the rights of emigrants. It seems unsurprising that his business prospered from the transportation of many immigrants to the United States. He was an active manager of many charitable associations in New York city, aided in establishing the Association for improving the condition of the poor, and was a founder of St. Luke's hospital. He was the first president of the Union League
Union League
A Union League is one of a number of organizations established starting in 1862, during the American Civil War to promote loyalty to the Union and the policies of Abraham Lincoln. They were also known as Loyal Leagues. They comprised upper middle class men who supported efforts such as the United...
Club, which was formed when the Union Club membership was divided over support for President Lincoln and the Civil War.
Robert Bowne Minturn and his wife donated land for the establishment of New York's Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
, having been inspired by the beauty of foreign cities and their parks, as seen during his family's trip abroad in 1848-49. Like his Quaker forebears, he was opposed to slavery. He is reported to have purchased a number of slaves for the purpose of setting them free, and he was a benefactor of the Freedmen's Association.
Descendants
Robert Bowne Minturn, Jr.Robert Bowne Minturn, Jr.
Robert Bowne Minturn, Jr. , was an American shipping magnate of the mid- to late 19th century.-Life:Robert Bowne Minturn was born February 21, 1836 in New York City.His father was Robert Bowne Minturn and mother was Anna Mary Wendell...
(born New York, 21 February 1836); graduated from Columbia in 1856 and joined the family firm soon thereafter. He married Sarah Susannah Shaw (1839–1926), sister of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw
Robert Gould Shaw
Robert Gould Shaw was an American officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. As colonel, he commanded the all-black 54th Regiment, which entered the war in 1863. He was killed in the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, near Charleston, South Carolina...
; he was the author of New York to Delhi (New York, 1858). Minturn, Colorado
Minturn, Colorado
Minturn is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,068 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Minturn is located at ....
, is named for him.
Susan Carter Minturn (born New York, ca. 1837); she married Thomas Baring in 1859.
John Wendell Minturn (born New York, ca. 1838).
Anna Mary Minturn (born New York, 16 March 1841); she married Rev. Charles Penrose Quicke.
Edith Minturn (born New York, 27 March 1844)
Sarah Minturn (born New York, ca. 1845).
Eliza Theodora Minturn (born New York, 15 October 1850).
William Minturn (born New York ca. 1854).
Another descendant is Edie Sedgwick
Edie Sedgwick
Edith Minturn "Edie" Sedgwick was an American actress, socialite, model and heiress. She is best known for being one of Andy Warhol's superstars. Sedgwick became known as "The Girl of the Year" in 1965 after starring in several of Warhol's short films in the 1960s...
, his great-great-granddaughter.