William Collins Whitney
William Collins Whitney (1841-1904) was an influential American lawyer and politician, born into a prominent family in Conway, Massachusetts. After graduating from Yale and Harvard Law School, he moved to New York City to pursue a legal career, where he quickly established a reputation for integrity and dedication. Whitney became active in the New York Democratic Party, playing a key role in the fight against corruption, particularly targeting the notorious Tweed Ring and Tammany Hall. His political acumen led him to positions such as New York City’s corporation counsel, where he effectively saved the city money by contesting fraudulent claims. Appointed as Secretary of the Navy under President Grover Cleveland, Whitney modernized naval operations and resisted political patronage. Beyond politics, he was a savvy investor in various industries, including railroads and real estate, contributing to public infrastructure and recreational facilities like race tracks. Whitney's legacy includes not only his wealth but also his commitment to reform and public service during a transformative era in American history.
William Collins Whitney
- Born: July 5, 1841
- Birthplace: Conway, Massachusetts
- Died: February 2, 1904
- Place of death: New York, New York
American attorney, investor, and government official
Born into a wealthy and prosperous family, Whitney substantially increased his fortune through ambition and hard work. He used his affluence to finance substantial contributions to philanthropy and public service.
Sources of wealth: Inheritance; law practice; investments; horse breeding
Bequeathal of wealth: Children
Early Life
Born in Conway, Massachusetts, to a prestigious family of Puritan heritage, William Collins Whitney (WIHT-nee) was reared in affluence. His father, James Scollay Whitney, was a former army officer and was active in the Democratic Party, which included holding an important patronage position in the administration of President James Buchanan. His mother, Laurinda Collins, could trace her lineage back to the founding of the Plymouth colony. Influenced by the success of his industrialist older brother, Henry Melville Whitney, William excelled in his studies as he prepared for adult life. In 1859, he graduated from Williston Seminary and then moved on to Yale University as he prepared for a career in law. After graduating with honors in 1863, Whitney enrolled in Harvard University’s law school and began practicing law in 1865.
First Ventures
Whitney decided to move to New York City as he began his legal career, primarily because he saw greater economic opportunities there. He joined the law firm of Abraham Lawrence, a much respected judge, and the young attorney soon built a reputation for honesty, diligence, and complete dedication to his clients. In 1869, he wed Flora Payne, who also came from a politically connected family, as her father was a member of the U.S. Senate from Ohio. Flora was a loving wife and the couple enjoyed a happy marriage and had five children.
Whitney’s earnings escalated with the number and affluence of his clients, and he became active in the politics of the New York Democratic Party. He led a group of ambitious reformers and helped create the Young Men’s Democratic Club. This group’s primary goal was to confront and defeat the entrenched corruption of the Tweed Ring and Tammany Hall.
In 1872, Whitney served as school inspector before becoming New York City’s corporation counsel in 1875. As corporation counsel, he saved New York a large amount of money by skillfully contesting false claims against the city. Whitney developed very powerful mentors, such as politicians Samuel Jones Tilden and Grover Cleveland, because of his friendly personality, his incorruptibility, and his wealth and family connections.
Mature Wealth
Whitney was part of a syndicate that purchased the South Pennsylvania Railroad, and the syndicate then created a committee to oversee the railroad’s financial interests, to which Whitney was appointed. He also invested in the New York and Northern Railroad Company and earned a large salary defending other railroads in legal actions. His investments were diverse, ranging from railroads to banks, utility companies, race tracks, and real estate.
His friend Cleveland was elected president of the United States in 1884 and subsequently appointed Whitney to the cabinet-level position of secretary of the navy, a post he held for the duration of Cleveland’s first term. Whitney began the process of modernizing the U.S. Navy by building new armored ships, opposing political partisanship in the development of naval budgets and fighting against patronage and the spoils system. He never again held an elective or appointive political position, despite his popularity in the Democratic Party and across the nation. He survived Flora and a second wife before dying of natural causes on February 2, 1904.
Legacy
Whitney amassed great wealth, but he also served the public by improving transportation, promoting the electrification of the United States, and eliminating wasteful spending in governmental activities. The horse racing facilities he built or in which he invested, such as Westbury Stable and the Belmont Park race track, brought pleasure and enjoyment to the public. Although he lived during the Gilded Age, his goals and actions also made him part of the reform-minded Progressive Era.
Bibliography
Graff, Harry F. Grover Cleveland. New York: Times Books/Henry Holt, 2002.
Hirsch, Mark D. William C. Whitney, Modern Warwick. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1948.
Risjord, Norman K. Populists and Progressives. New York: Rowman and Littlefield, 2005.