Frederick Ferris Thompson
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Born in New York City in 1836 to John and Electa Thompson, Frederick Ferris Thompson grew up in a life of luxury. He attended Williams College from 1852 to 1854, but left to go abroad at his father's request. In 1857, he married Mary Lee Clark, daughter of then governor of New York Myron Holley Clark.
That same year, Frederick, his father and his brother Samuel founded their first bank, "Thompson's Bank Note and Commercial Reporter". In 1863, the trio opened their third bank, called the "1st National Bank of the City of New York". The bank survives to this day as Citibank.
In 1873 John and Samuel Thompson left the 1st National Bank to form the Chase National Bank, named after their friend and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. The bank survives to this day as JP Morgan Chase.
An amateur photographer, strong supporter of education, and noted philanthropist, Thompson and his wife donated large sums of money to numerous organizations, including Williams Alumni Association, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Geographical Society, and the Union League. Thompson also served on the board of trustees of Williams College, Vassar, and Teachers College (now Columbia University).
Thompson died on April 10, 1899 in New York City. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Canandaigua, New York.
