Ogden Goelet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1851-06-11)June 11, 1851 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 27, 1897(1897-08-27) (aged 46) |
| Occupation | Real estate developer |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Mary Goelet Robert Wilson Goelet |
| Parent(s) | Robert Goelet Sr. Sarah Ogden |
| Relatives | SeeGoelet family |
Ogden Goelet (June 11, 1851New York City – August 27, 1897Cowes,Isle of Wight) was an American heir, businessman and yachtsman fromNew York City during theGilded Age. With his wife, he builtOchre Court inNewport, Rhode Island, his son builtGlenmere mansion, and his daughter,Mary Goelet, marriedHenry Innes-Ker, 8th Duke of Roxburghe.
Ogden Goelet was born on September 29, 1851, inManhattan,New York City to Sarah Ogden (1809–1888) and Robert Goelet (1809–1879).[1] His father was a prominent landlord in New York City, as was his uncle, Peter Goelet, who was named afterPeter Goelet, Ogden's great-grandfather. His parents resided at 5 State Street, overlooking theBattery inManhattan.[2]
Goelet's older brother was real estate developerRobert Goelet, and his nephew wasRobert Walton Goelet.[3] His paternal aunt, Hannah Green Goelet, was married to Thomas Russell Gerry, a son ofU.S. Vice PresidentElbridge Gerry. His grandfather was the merchant and landownerPeter P. Goelet. Through this marriage, Goelet was a first cousin ofElbridge Thomas Gerry.[4]
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Along with his brother, he managed the real estate of his father, Robert Goelet, and his uncle Peter Goelet, who both died in 1879.[2] After his father's and uncle's deaths, he inherited almost half their fortune, along with his brother.[4] In New York, he was one of the stockholders of theMetropolitan Opera House, holding Box No. 1.[5]
In 1892, Goelet and his wife Mary were included inWard McAllister's "Four Hundred", purported to be an index of New York's best families, published inThe New York Times.[6][7] Conveniently, 400 was the number of people that could fit intoMrs. Astor's ballroom.[8] Mary was known as one of theviceregal leaders of the Ultra-fashionable 150, amongMrs. Astor, Mrs.Ogden Mills,Mrs. John Jacob Astor, andMrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr.[9]
He had several yachts including a schooner,Norseman that was designed by William Townsend and built in 1881 at the Richard & Cornelius Poillon shipyard in Brooklyn.[10][11] From 1893 he also charteredLillie Langtry's yachtWhite Ladye.[12] His final yacht was namedMayflower and was designed byGeorge Lennox Watson in 1896 and built on the Clyde (Scotland) by J & G Thompson. After Goelet's death the yacht was sold to the US Navy and becameUSS Mayflower.[5] Goelet's brother, Robert, had a similar yacht built at the same time, at a different Clydeside shipyard. This later becameUSS Nahma.[13]
Goelet and his wife owned a townhouse at 608Fifth Avenue in New York City and a villa inNice, France. When in London, they lived atWimbourne House.[5]
In 1892, he and his wife commissionedOchre Court, achâteauesque mansion inNewport, Rhode Island. The home was built at a cost of $4.5 million and was the second largest mansion in Newport after nearbyThe Breakers, both designed by architectRichard Morris Hunt.[14]
In 1878, he marriedMary Rita Wilson (1855–1929), daughter ofRichard Thornton Wilson Sr. and Melissa Clementine Johnston. Her siblings included the bankerRichard Thornton Wilson Jr. and socialiteGrace Graham Wilson, who was married toCornelius Vanderbilt III.[15] Together, they were the parents of two children:[15]
He was a member of theNew York Yacht Club for 17 years, as well as theKnickerbocker Club,Metropolitan Club, andUnion Club.[5]
On August 27, 1897, after over five years spent abroad, Goelet died aboard his yacht in the town ofCowes in theIsle of Wight after having been ill for two months. He had been attended to byWilliam Broadbent, doctor to thePrince of Wales, with whom he was close friends.[5] His family and body sailed back to the United States[19] and his funeral was held aboard his yacht in Newport and he was buried atWoodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York).[20] In his will, he left his entire estate to his wife and two children.[21] His widow died in 1929.[15]
Robert Walton Goelet of New York and Newport, R. I., a member of one of New York's oldest and wealthiest families, died of a heart attack yesterday at his ...
