James William Beekman Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 31st President of theSaint Nicholas Society of the City of New York | |
| In office 1890–1891 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Schell |
| Succeeded by | Frederic James de Peyster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1847-11-04)November 4, 1847 Mount Pleasant,New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 7, 1908(1908-08-07) (aged 60) Oyster Bay, New York, U.S. |
| Relations | Phillip Milledoler (grandfather) |
| Parent(s) | James William Beekman Abian Milledoler Beekman |
| Alma mater | Columbia Law School |
| Awards | Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Signature | .png) |
James William Beekman Jr. (November 4, 1847 – August 7, 1908) was an American lawyer and philanthropist.
Beekman was born on November 4, 1847, inMount Pleasant, New York. He was one of five children born toJames William Beekman (1815–1877)[1][2] and Abian Ann Steele (née Milledoler) Beekman (1819–1897). Among his siblings was Catherine Beekman, who married William W. Hoppin, Jr. (son ofGovernorWilliam W. Hoppin);[3] Gerard Beekman; Philip Milledoller Beekman, who died young; and Cornelia Augusta Beekman. His father was aNew York State Assemblyman andSenator who also served as the vice president of theNew York Hospital.[4]
His maternal grandparents were Margaret (née Steele) Milledoler andPhillip Milledoler, the president ofRutgers University. His paternal grandparents were Catharine (née Saunders) Beekman and Gerard Beekman,[5] himself the son ofJames Beekman, a prominent merchant. Beekman was a direct descendant ofGerardus Beekman,[5] actingMayor of New York City, andWilhelmus Beekman,[5] who sailed toNew Netherlands withPeter Stuyvesant and was an officer of theDutch West India Company.[6]
Beekman graduated fromColumbia Law School, and, after beingadmitted to the bar in 1871, he built up a large practice with an office located at 7East 42nd Street.[7] Beekman was devoted to various charities, including as a trustee of theNew York Hospital and a member of the Executive Committee of theNew-York Historical Society.[8] He was a member of many clubs and patriotic societies, including theDowntown Club, theUnion Club of the City of New York, theKnickerbocker Club, theUniversity Club of New York, theNew York Yacht Club, theSeawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club and theCentury Club.[9]
After his father's death in 1877, he inherited his father'sMadison Avenue residence and his elder brother Gerard, also a lawyer, inheritedThe Cliffs, the family estate inOyster Bay, New York, designed byHenry G. Harrison.[10] Both brothers and their sister Nellie lived at The Cliff's in the summer.[9]
In 1890, Beekman became the31st President of theSaint Nicholas Society of the City of New York, an organization his father was the 17th president of from 1868 to 1869. Due to his work with the Saint Nicholas Society, he was recognized byWilhelmina, theQueen of the Netherlands, and made a Knight of theOrder of Orange-Nassau in honor of "his services to the Officers of the Dutch Man-of-WarVan Speijk during theColumbianNaval Review" in 1893.[8]
Beekman, who did not marry, died at The Cliffs in Oyster Bay on Friday evening, August 7, 1908.[11][12] His funeral was held at theReformed Dutch Church atFifth Avenue and29th Street in New York.[13]