George Emlen Roosevelt

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George Emlen Roosevelt (1887-1963) a banker and philanthropist, was a first cousin once-removed of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and one of the most prominent railroad financiers of his day, involved in no fewer than 14 railroad reorganizations. He also held directorships in several important companies, including the Morgan-controlled Guaranty Trust Company, the Chemical Bank, and the Bank for Savings in New York.

In 1908, George Emlen became a member of the family banking firm Roosevelt & Son. In January 1934, after the passage of FDR's Banking Act of 1933, the firm was split into three individual units: Roosevelt & Son, with which George Roosevelt remained as a senior partner, Dick & Merle-Smith, and Roosevelt & Weingold.

Mr. Roosevelt was a significant New York City philanthropist, serving as as President and Director of the Chapin School, Vice-President of the Roosevelt Hospital, the New York Dispensary and New York University.

He was a graduate of St. Mark's School, class of 1905, and Harvard University, class of 1909. Roosevelt was a trustee of New York University for 35 years, the last 12 as chairman. (George Emlen Roosevelt Dies; Leading Banker and Yachtsman. New York Times, Sep. 4, 1963.)

He was the son of W. Emlen Roosevelt and Christine Griffin Kean and a direct descendant of Claes Martenszen Van Rosenvelt, who came from the Province of Zeeland in the Netherlands and emigrated to New Netherland in 1649. His son Julian Roosevelt also headed Roosevelt & Son, and was an olympic yachtsman.