James Stillman
| James Stillman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
James Jewett Stillman June 9, 1850 Brownsville, Texas |
| Died |
March 15, 1918 (aged 67) Manhattan, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Net worth | USD $77 million at the time of his death (approximately 1/989th of US GNP)[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Elizabeth Rumrill |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) |
Charles Stillman Elizabeth Pamela Goodrich |
James Jewett Stillman (June 9, 1850 – March 15, 1918) was an American businessman who invested in land, banking, and railroads in New York, Texas, and Mexico. He was chairman of the board of directors of the National City Bank.[2]
Early life
Stillman was born on June 9, 1850 to Charles Stillman (1810–1875) and Elizabeth Pamela Goodrich in Brownsville, Texas, a town founded by his father. Both of his parents were born in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Charles Stillman had significant business interests which James acquired in 1872. He expanded those to control of sixteen Texas banks and a significant land holdings in the Rio Grande Valley, particularly Corpus Christi and Kerrville, Texas.[3]
Career
Along with W. Averell Harriman, Jacob Henry Schiff and William Rockefeller, he controlled the most important Texas railroads (including the Texas and Pacific Railway, the Southern Pacific Railroad, the International-Great Northern Railroad, the Union Pacific Southern Railway, the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway, and the Mexican National Railroad).
In 1876, Stillman supported Porfirio Díaz's overthrow of the government of Mexico by the Revolution of Tuxtepec.
He was chairman of the board of directors of the National City Bank and retired in 1908.[2]
Personal life
He married Sarah Elizabeth Rumrill. Together they had:
- James Alexander Stillman (1873–1944), who married Anne Urquhart Potter. He also served as president of National City Bank of New York
- Sarah Elizabeth "Elsie" Stillman, who married William Goodsell Rockefeller (1870–1922), the son William Rockefeller, a senior executive of Standard Oil
- James Stillman Rockefeller (1902–2004), who married Nancy Carnegie (died 1994), grandniece of Andrew Carnegie. James also served as president of National City from 1952 to 1959 and was chairman from 1959 to 1967.
- Isabel Goodrich Stillman (died 1935), who married Percy Avery Rockefeller (1878—1934) in 1901. Percy was another son of William Rockefeller
- Charles Chauncey Stillman (died 1926 aboard the RMS Aquitania), who married Mary E. White (died 1925)[4]
- Ernest Goodrich Stillman
His great-grandson is director Whit Stillman.[5]
He died on March 15, 1918 at his home on 9 East 72nd Street in Manhattan, New York.[2] His funeral was at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York.[6]
Legacy
In 1928, the C.O. Stillman was named in his honor. At the time, it was the largest oil tanker in the World.[7]
Stillman is considered to have been one of the 100 wealthiest Americans, having left an enormous fortune.[1]
References
- 1 2 Klepper, Michael; Gunther, Michael (1996), The Wealthy 100: From Benjamin Franklin to Bill Gates—A Ranking of the Richest Americans, Past and Present, Secaucus, New Jersey: Carol Publishing Group, p. xi, ISBN 978-0-8065-1800-8, OCLC 33818143
- 1 2 3 "James Stillman, Head Of City Bank, Dies Suddenly". New York Times. Mar 16, 1918. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
James Stillman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National City Bank, the Presidency of which he resigned in 1908, when he was succeeded by Frank A. Vanderlip, died suddenly yesterday afternoon at 5:30 O'clock at his home, 9 East Seventy-second Street. ...
- ↑ Hart, John Mason. "Charles Stillman". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
- ↑ "C.C. STILLMAN DIES ON BOARD AQUITANIA; Benefactor Harvard on Way Home From Europe When He Is Attacked by Appendicitis.". timesmachine.nytimes.com (The New York Times). August 17, 1926. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/31/style/the-whit-stillman-rat-pack.html
- ↑ "F. A. Vanderlip May Succeed Stillman. Slated for Chairman of City Bank and One of the Executive Managers as President. W. A. Simonson Spoken Of. James Stillman's Loss Felt Keenly by the French, Whom He Had Helped Liberally. Guess as to Possible Changes. Presidency in Doubt. Gave Liberally to the French. Great Growth Under Stillman". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
Funeral services for James Stillman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National City Bank, who died at his home, 9 East Seventy-second Street, on Friday, will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at St. Bartholomew's Church, Madison Avenue and Fortyfourth Street.
- ↑ Visser, Auke. "C. O. Stillman - (1937-1942)". Auke Visser's International Esso Tankers site. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
Further reading
- John K. Winkler, The First Billion: The Stillmans and the National City Bank (New York: Vanguard, 1934).
- John Mason Hart, "STILLMAN, JAMES," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fstbp), accessed January 10, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
External links
| Business positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Percy Pyne |
President/Chairman of National City Bank 1891–1909 (President) 1909–1918 (Chairman) |
Succeeded by Frank A. Vanderlip |
|