Robert Emmons
Encyclopedia
Robert Wales Emmons II was an American football
player, coach, yachtsman, and millionaire. He played and coached college football
for Harvard University
from 1891 to 1895. He later had a successful career in the banking and stock brokerage business. He was an avid yachtsman who was the managing owner of the Resolute
in its successful defense of the America's Cup
in 1920.
.
where he played college football
as an end for the Harvard Crimson football
team from 1891 to 1894. He was elected by his teammates to serve as captain of the 1894 Harvard football team. He was president of his class at Harvard as a junior, and The New York Times
wrote that "[h]is popularity depends mostly upon the great enthusiasm with which he has clung to football at Harvard during four steady years of defeat." He graduated from Harvard in 1895 but returned in the fall of 1895 as the Harvard Crimson football
team's head football coach. He led Harvard to an 8–2–1 record in his only year as the head coach.
In 1917, Emmons purchased the Eastern League baseball team in Lynn, Massachusetts
, which he moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts
.
during World War I
, had the rank of lieutenant commander, and was assigned to organize the Naval Overseas Transport Service.
in its successful defense of the America's Cup
in 1920. By 1913, Emmons was already a well-known yachtsman. At that time, J. P. Morgan
and Cornelius Vanderbilt III
asked Emmons to oversee the defense of the America's Cup set for 1914. Emmons became part of the syndicate with Morgan and Vanderbilt that built and owned the Resolute. Emmons monitored the construction of the Resolute at Nathanael Greene Herreshoff's boatyard in the winter and spring of 1913 to 1914. Emmons and Charles Francis Adams III
led the Resolute in its 1914 defense of the America's Cup, but the competition was terminated upon the outbreak of World War I
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, coach, yachtsman, and millionaire. He played and coached college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from 1891 to 1895. He later had a successful career in the banking and stock brokerage business. He was an avid yachtsman who was the managing owner of the Resolute
Resolute (yacht)
Resolute was a yacht designed and built by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff for a syndicate of New York Yacht Club members headed by Henry Walters to contend the 1914 America's Cup...
in its successful defense of the 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...
in 1920.
Early years
Emmons was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1872. He was the son of Nathaniel H. Emmons and Eleanor G. (Bacon) Emmons. He attended preparatory school at Groton SchoolGroton School
Groton School is a private, Episcopal, college preparatory boarding school located in Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. It enrolls approximately 375 boys and girls, from the eighth through twelfth grades...
.
Harvard
Emmons enrolled at Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
as an end for the Harvard Crimson football
Harvard Crimson football
The Harvard Crimson football program represents Harvard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Harvard's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1873...
team from 1891 to 1894. He was elected by his teammates to serve as captain of the 1894 Harvard football team. He was president of his class at Harvard as a junior, and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote that "[h]is popularity depends mostly upon the great enthusiasm with which he has clung to football at Harvard during four steady years of defeat." He graduated from Harvard in 1895 but returned in the fall of 1895 as the Harvard Crimson football
Harvard Crimson football
The Harvard Crimson football program represents Harvard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Harvard's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1873...
team's head football coach. He led Harvard to an 8–2–1 record in his only year as the head coach.
Business career and family
After leaving Harvard, Emmons became the treasurer of the Lawrence Gaslight Co., and a banker and bondsman associated with the firm of F.A. Schirmer & Co. in Boston. At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Emmons was living in Boston with his wife, Helen, and their son, Robert W. Emmons III. His occupation was listed at that time as a stock broker. At the time of the 1930 United States Census, Emmons continued to live in both with his wife, Helen. At that time, they had two sons, Robert W. Emmons 3rd and Gardner Emmons. They also had five live-in servants, and Emmons' occupation was listed as a stock broker. In 1920, he was still living in Boston with his wife and two sons; he was listed as being employed in the shipping business.In 1917, Emmons purchased the Eastern League baseball team in Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, which he moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
.
U.S. Navy
He served in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, had the rank of lieutenant commander, and was assigned to organize the Naval Overseas Transport Service.
Yachtsman
He was an active yachtsman for many years. His accomplishments as a yachtsman include service as skipper and managing owner of the ResoluteResolute (yacht)
Resolute was a yacht designed and built by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff for a syndicate of New York Yacht Club members headed by Henry Walters to contend the 1914 America's Cup...
in its successful defense of the 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...
in 1920. By 1913, Emmons was already a well-known yachtsman. At that time, J. P. Morgan
J. P. Morgan
John Pierpont Morgan was an American financier, banker and art collector who dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation during his time. In 1892 Morgan arranged the merger of Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston Electric Company to form General Electric...
and Cornelius Vanderbilt III
Cornelius Vanderbilt III
Cornelius Vanderbilt III was a distinguished American military officer, inventor, engineer, and yachtsman, and a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...
asked Emmons to oversee the defense of the America's Cup set for 1914. Emmons became part of the syndicate with Morgan and Vanderbilt that built and owned the Resolute. Emmons monitored the construction of the Resolute at Nathanael Greene Herreshoff's boatyard in the winter and spring of 1913 to 1914. Emmons and Charles Francis Adams III
Charles Francis Adams III
Charles Francis Adams III was the United States Secretary of the Navy under President Herbert Hoover and a well-known yachtsman.-Life:...
led the Resolute in its 1914 defense of the America's Cup, but the competition was terminated upon the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.