Morris Ketchum Jesup
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Morris Ketchum Jesup (June 21, 1830 - January 22, 1908), United States banker and philanthropist, was born at Westport, Connecticut.
In 1842 he went to New York City, where after some experience in business he established a banking house in 1852. In 1856 he organized the banking firm of MK Jesup & Company, which after two reorganizations became Cuyler, Morgan & Jesup. He became widely known as a financier, retiring from active business in 1884.
He was best known, however, as a munificent patron of scientific research, a large contributor to the needs of education, and a public-spirited citizen of wide interests, who did much for the betterment of social conditions in New York. He contributed largely to the funds for the Arctic expeditions of Commander Robert E Peary, becoming president of the Peary Arctic Club in 1899.
To the American museum of natural history, in New York City, he gave large sums in his lifetime and bequeathed $1,000,000.
He was president of the New York Chamber of Commerce from 1899 until 1907, and was the largest subscriber to its new building. To his native town he gave a fine public library. He died in New York City on the 22 January 1908, aged 77.
Columbia University's Jesup Lectureship is named after him.
[edit] Sources
- The Jesup Lectureship, Columbia University.
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
[edit] External links
- Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History - Objects and Photographs from Jesup North Pacific Expedition 1897-1902 (section Collections Online, option Collections Highlights).
