William Payne Whitney | |
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.jpg) William Payne Whitney, c. 1899 | |
| Born | William Payne Whitney March 20, 1876 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 25, 1927 (1927-05-26) (aged 51) Manhasset, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Yale University Harvard Law School |
| Occupation(s) | Investor, racehorse owner/breeder, philanthropist |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Joan Whitney John Hay Whitney |
| Parent(s) | William Collins Whitney Flora Payne |
| Relatives | SeeWhitney family |
William Payne Whitney (March 20, 1876 – May 25, 1927) was an American businessman and member of the influentialWhitney family. He inherited a fortune and enlarged it through business dealings, then devoted much of his money and efforts to a wide variety of philanthropic purposes. His will included funds to expand theNew York Hospital, now calledNewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where thePayne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic was established.
William Payne Whitney was born on March 20, 1876, toWilliam Collins Whitney (1841–1904) andFlora Payne (1842–1893). His siblings included: elder brother,Harry Payne Whitney (1872–1930),Pauline Payne Whitney (1874–1916), and younger sister,Dorothy Payne Whitney (1887–1968).[1]
After his mother's death and his father's remarriage (of which he apparently disapproved), Whitney essentially dropped the first name he shared with his father, and became commonly known simply as Payne Whitney. This choice is reflected in the form of his name associated with several of his philanthropic endeavors.[2]
Whitney was educated at theGroton School. He attendedYale College, where he was a member ofSkull and Bones[3]: 171 andDelta Kappa Epsilon, and captained the Yalerowing team. After graduating in 1898, Whitney then studied law at theHarvard Law School, receiving hisBachelor of Laws in 1901.[4]
In addition to a substantial inheritance from his father, William inherited $63,000,000 from his uncle, Col.Oliver Hazard Payne. Amongst his many investments, he possessed major holdings in banking, tobacco, railroads, mining and oil. He was also a member of the board of directors and/or an executive officer of several large corporations, including theCity Bank New York, and theGreat Northern Paper Company, and the Northern Finance Corporation.[4]
Ahorse racing enthusiast in the tradition of his father and brother, William'sGreentree Stable, named for theirLong Island estate, was a very significant racing and breeding operation forthoroughbred horses.[5]
Throughout his life, William Payne Whitney was involved in philanthropic work for a variety of causes. A trustee of theNew York Public Library, in 1923 he gave the library $12,000,000. Whitney made charitable contributions to the rowing team at his alma mater, Yale University, including donating funds to build a dormitory for the crew.[6]
His will bequeathed more than $20 million to establish thePayne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic atCornell University'smedical school, now calledWeill Cornell Medicine, andNew York Hospital, nowNew York–Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.[7][8]
Smaller amounts to other educational and medical institutions.[7] Although he had contributed $1,000,000 to the Yale Endowment Fund shortly before his death, sufficient estate funds were given to enable Yale's construction of the 9½ storyPayne Whitney Gymnasium that too was completed in 1932.[9][10] As a tribute to him, a road in Manhasset was named after him, Payne Whitney Lane.
In 1902, Whitney marriedHelen Julia Hay (1875–1944),[11] the daughter of then-United States Secretary of State (and formerU.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom)John Hay.[12] TheirStanford White-designed mansion,Payne Whitney House at 972 Fifth Avenue, was a wedding gift from his maternal uncle,Oliver Hazard Payne. The couple also had an estate,Greentree, inManhasset, New York. Together, they had two children:[11]
On September 20, 1911, Whitney was aboard theRMS Olympic when it was rammed by the warship HMS Hawke.Olympic was the sister ship of theRMS Titanic.[18]
Whitney died in 1927 at his Greentree estate.[4]
London, Dec. 15—Mrs. Dorothy Payne Whitney Straight Elmhirst, philanthropist, pioneer in progressive education and suffragist, died last night at Dartington Hall near ...
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