.gif)
Robert Moran (shipbuilder)
Encyclopedia
Robert Moran was a prominent Seattle shipbuilder
who served as the city's mayor from 1888 to 1890.
A native of New York City
, Moran was 18 when, in 1875, he arrived penniless in Seattle, a frontier outpost in the Pacific Northwest
, which had been settled in November 1851, and only incorporated between 1865 and 1869. Through hard work he earned enough money to send for his family and, by 1882, he and his brothers started a marine repair business at Yesler's wharf
. The Moran Brothers Company prospered during the Klondike Gold Rush
when, among other projects, they built a fleet of 12 176-foot paddlewheel riverboats (hull Nos. 9-20), which were successfully delivered to the Yukon River
.
In 1888, 31-year-old Robert Moran was elected the Republican
mayor of Seattle. In those early years, the town's mayors were elected in July for a one-year term. Near the end of his service, on June 6, 1889, the Great Seattle Fire
destroyed most of the central business district. Moran's leadership in coordinating the recovery activities won him a second term in the following month's election. Through the period of his mayoralty, he was instrumental in the successful rebuilding of businesses. His political connections were also very helpful in securing government contracts for his shipbuilding company.
Following his mayoral service, Robert Moran devoted all his efforts to his shipbuilding business and, in 1904, climaxed his career with his shipyard's launch of the USS Nebraska
, Washington State's only battleship. He was told in 1905 that he had one year to live, and retreated to Orcas Island
in Puget Sound
's San Juans
, where he built the Moran Mansion—surrounded at that time by 7800 acres (31.6 km²) of land—that is now the centerpiece of Rosario Resort. Moran outlived his doctors' prediction and went on to live another 38 years on Orcas. Two years later, he sold the shipbuilding company for an undisclosed price between US$2.5 and 3.5 million and spent the remainder of his long life in retirement on Orcas.
Robert Moran was born before the start of the Civil War
and he died on Orcas Island two months after his 86th birthday, while the United States was at a midpoint in World War II
, with his former shipbuilding concern producing more ships in 1943 than could have been imagined sixty years earlier, at its founding.
He was buried in the Moran family plot in Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle.
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
who served as the city's mayor from 1888 to 1890.
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...
, Moran was 18 when, in 1875, he arrived penniless in Seattle, a frontier outpost in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, which had been settled in November 1851, and only incorporated between 1865 and 1869. Through hard work he earned enough money to send for his family and, by 1882, he and his brothers started a marine repair business at Yesler's wharf
Henry Yesler
Henry L. Yesler was an entrepreneur considered to be Seattle, Washington's first economic father and first millionaire. He arrived in Seattle in 1852 and built a steam-powered sawmill, which provided numerous jobs for those early settlers and Duwamish tribe members...
. The Moran Brothers Company prospered during the Klondike Gold Rush
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
when, among other projects, they built a fleet of 12 176-foot paddlewheel riverboats (hull Nos. 9-20), which were successfully delivered to the Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
.
In 1888, 31-year-old Robert Moran was elected the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
mayor of Seattle. In those early years, the town's mayors were elected in July for a one-year term. Near the end of his service, on June 6, 1889, the Great Seattle Fire
Great Seattle Fire
The Great Seattle Fire was a fire that destroyed the entire central business district of Seattle, Washington, USA, on June 6, 1889.-Early Seattle:In the fall of 1851, the Denny Party arrived at Alki Point in what is now the state of Washington...
destroyed most of the central business district. Moran's leadership in coordinating the recovery activities won him a second term in the following month's election. Through the period of his mayoralty, he was instrumental in the successful rebuilding of businesses. His political connections were also very helpful in securing government contracts for his shipbuilding company.
USS Nebraska (BB-14)
USS Nebraska was a Virginia-class pre-dreadnought battleship of the United States Navy. She was the first ship to carry her name.- History :...
, Washington State's only battleship. He was told in 1905 that he had one year to live, and retreated to Orcas Island
Orcas Island
Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juan Islands, which are located in the northwestern corner of Washington state in San Juan County, Washington.-History:...
in Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
's San Juans
San Juan Island
San Juan Island is the second-largest and most populous of the San Juan Islands in northwestern Washington, United States. It has a land area of 142.59 km² and a population of 6,822 as of the 2000 census....
, where he built the Moran Mansion—surrounded at that time by 7800 acres (31.6 km²) of land—that is now the centerpiece of Rosario Resort. Moran outlived his doctors' prediction and went on to live another 38 years on Orcas. Two years later, he sold the shipbuilding company for an undisclosed price between US$2.5 and 3.5 million and spent the remainder of his long life in retirement on Orcas.
Robert Moran was born before the start of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and he died on Orcas Island two months after his 86th birthday, while the United States was at a midpoint in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, with his former shipbuilding concern producing more ships in 1943 than could have been imagined sixty years earlier, at its founding.
He was buried in the Moran family plot in Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle.