William Weightman
Encyclopedia
William Weightman I was a chemical manufacturer and one of the largest landowners in the United States
.
, Lincolnshire
, England
and came to the United States at the age of 16 in 1829. He came to the US at the suggestion of his uncle, chemist John Farr, founder of the firm of Farr and Kunzi, the first manufacturers of sulfate
of quinine
in the United States.
Upon Kunzi's retirement in 1836, Farr partnered with Thomas Powers and Weightman to establish Farr, Powers and Weightman, manufacturing chemists. In 1841, Weightman married Louisa Stillwagon; together, they had three children: John, William Jr., and Anne.
When John Farr died in 1847, the business became Powers and Weightman, chemical manufacturers.
Responsible for introducing quinine to the United States, Weightman amassed a large fortune through shrewd investments, derived from his manufacturing enterprise.
In 1875, Powers and Weightman won the Elliott Cresson Medal
for Engineering, presented by the Franklin Institute
.
Weightman purchased hundreds of acres of farms in what is now North Philadelphia and built whole neighborhoods of middle-class housing, serviced by streetcar lines. His architect for these was Willis G. Hale
, the husband of one of his nieces.
Having outlived his two sons, Weightman came to rely on his daughter, Anne Weightman Walker, in his later years. They lived in a large mansion, Ravenhill
(also by Hale), in the East Falls section of the city. (At his death in 1904, the Ravenill Mansion passed on to Anne who gave the estate to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1910. Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty
of the Archdiocese would go on to grant the Mansion to an order of nuns: Religious of the Assumption
. The sisters converted the mansion into a school and named it Ravenhill Academy.
He died on August 25, 1904 at Ravenhill
.
from the Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury
; it was exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington and in Philadelphia in 1908.
He married Louisa Stelwagon
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Weightman was born on September 30, 1813 in WalthamWaltham, Lincolnshire
Waltham is a village and civil parish in North East Lincolnshire, England. It is south-west of Grimsby and is close to the villages of Scartho, Brigsley, Barnoldby-le-Beck, and Bradley...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and came to the United States at the age of 16 in 1829. He came to the US at the suggestion of his uncle, chemist John Farr, founder of the firm of Farr and Kunzi, the first manufacturers of sulfate
Sulfate
In inorganic chemistry, a sulfate is a salt of sulfuric acid.-Chemical properties:...
of quinine
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
in the United States.
Upon Kunzi's retirement in 1836, Farr partnered with Thomas Powers and Weightman to establish Farr, Powers and Weightman, manufacturing chemists. In 1841, Weightman married Louisa Stillwagon; together, they had three children: John, William Jr., and Anne.
When John Farr died in 1847, the business became Powers and Weightman, chemical manufacturers.
Responsible for introducing quinine to the United States, Weightman amassed a large fortune through shrewd investments, derived from his manufacturing enterprise.
In 1875, Powers and Weightman won the Elliott Cresson Medal
Elliott Cresson Medal
The Elliott Cresson Medal, also known as the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal, was the highest award given by the Franklin Institute. The award was established by Elliott Cresson, life member of the Franklin Institute, with $1,000 granted in 1848...
for Engineering, presented by the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
.
Weightman purchased hundreds of acres of farms in what is now North Philadelphia and built whole neighborhoods of middle-class housing, serviced by streetcar lines. His architect for these was Willis G. Hale
Willis G. Hale
Willis Gaylord Hale was a late-19th century architect who worked primarily in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, the husband of one of his nieces.
Having outlived his two sons, Weightman came to rely on his daughter, Anne Weightman Walker, in his later years. They lived in a large mansion, Ravenhill
Ravenhill (mansion)
Ravenhill was the mansion of William Weightman in Philadelphia. It was designed by Willis Gaylord Hale.- History :At his death in 1904, the Ravenhill Mansion passed on to Anne Weightman who gave the estate to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1910. Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty of the...
(also by Hale), in the East Falls section of the city. (At his death in 1904, the Ravenill Mansion passed on to Anne who gave the estate to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1910. Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty
Dennis Joseph Dougherty
Dennis Joseph Dougherty was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1918 until his death in 1951, and was created a cardinal in 1921.-Early life and education:...
of the Archdiocese would go on to grant the Mansion to an order of nuns: Religious of the Assumption
Religious of the Assumption
The Religious of the Assumption were founded by Saint Marie Eugénie Milleret in Paris in 1839. Her vision was of transforming society through education...
. The sisters converted the mansion into a school and named it Ravenhill Academy.
He died on August 25, 1904 at Ravenhill
Ravenhill (mansion)
Ravenhill was the mansion of William Weightman in Philadelphia. It was designed by Willis Gaylord Hale.- History :At his death in 1904, the Ravenhill Mansion passed on to Anne Weightman who gave the estate to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1910. Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty of the...
.
Legacy
A posthumous portrait of William Weightman was also commissioned by his daughter Anne WeightmanAnne Weightman
Anne Weightman Walker Penfield , was a philanthropist, and one of the richest women in world.-Biography:She was born in 1884 to William Weightman....
from the Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury
Adolfo Müller-Ury
Adolfo Muller-Ury was a Swiss-born American portrait painter and impressionistic painter of roses and still life.-Heritage and early life in Switzerland:...
; it was exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington and in Philadelphia in 1908.
He married Louisa Stelwagon
Further reading
- Philadelphia - A History of the City and Its People. Ellis Paxson OberholtzerEllis Paxson OberholtzerEllis Paxson Oberholtzer was an American biographer and historical writer...
(Philadelphia, 1911). - James Foss. Willis Gaylord Hale and Philadelphia's Rebellion of the Picturesque: 1880-1890. Masters Thesis, Penn State University, 1964.