Ambrose Kingsland
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Ambrose C. Kingsland (1804-1878) was a wealthy sperm oil merchant who served as mayor of New York City from 1851 to 1853. He initiated the legislation for a large public park within New York City known today as Central Park. In 1851, he sent a message to the Common Council that ignited interest in, and sped up the start of, legislation that eventually led to the building of Central Park.
Kingsland's home was at 114 Fifth Avenue (southwest corner at 17th Street), now the site of a Banana Republic store.
In 1864, Kingsland purchased Hunter Island in Pelham Bay Park, Bronx for $127,501.00.
[edit] External links
- The Century in Times Square
- Purchase of Hunter Island
- Guide to Fifth Avenue including site of Kingsland's house
Ambrose Kingsland later purchased a sizeable country home north of the city along the Hudson River, in what is present-day Sleepy Hollow (from the Washington Irving legend of the same name.) His sale of the land to the early steam-engine automotive company, Stanley Steamer, paved the way for Sleepy Hollow's reawakening as a major automotive production hub for much of the 20th century.
A waterfront park in the Westchester County suburb still bears Kingsland's name, as does Kingsland Avenue in the Greenpoint neighboorhood of Brooklyn, which he helped survey (source http://ragette.org/greenpoint%20architecture/historicdistrict/AIA%20text.htm). There is also a Kingsland Avenue in the Baychester section of the Bronx.
| Mayors of New York City (since 1834) |  |
|---|---|
| Lawrence • Clark • Varian • Morris • Harper • Havemeyer • Mickle • Brady • Havemeyer • Woodhull • Kingsland • Westervelt • Wood • Tiemann • Wood • Opdyke • Gunther • Hoffman • Coman • Hall • Havemeyer • Vance • Wickham • Ely • Cooper • Grace • Edson • Grace • Hewitt • Grant • Gilroy • Strong • Van Wyck • Low • McClellan • Gaynor • Kline • Mitchel • Hylan • Walker • McKee • O'Brien • LaGuardia • O'Dwyer • Impellitteri • Wagner • Lindsay • Beame • Koch • Dinkins • Giuliani • Bloomberg |
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