| William R. Grace | |
|---|---|
William R. Grace, as Mayor of New York City |
|
| Born | May 10, 1832 Ballylinan, County Laois, Ireland |
| Died | March 21, 1904 (aged 71) New York City, New York, United States |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn |
| Residence | 31 E. Seventy-ninth St., New York City |
| Occupation | Businessman, politician, philanthropist |
| Known for | Mayor of New York City Founding co-benefactor of the Grace Institute |
| Board member of | W. R. Grace and Company, Grace Brothers & Co. |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Spouse | Lillius Gilchrist |
| Children | Joseph Peter, Willliam Russell Jr., Alice, Lily, Louise |
| Parents | James Grace & Ellen Russell |
| Relatives | Siblings: Michael Paul, John W., Morgan Stanislaus |
William Russell Grace (May 10, 1832 – March 21, 1904) was the first Roman Catholic mayor of New York City and the founder of W. R. Grace and Company.
Contents |
He was born on May 10, 1832 in Ballylinan, County Laois, Ireland.
He began his business career in Peru, where he was a partner with the firm of John Bryce, ship chandlers, later to become Grace Brothers & Co. headquartered in London, England, and then W. R. Grace and Company.
William Russell Grace was a renowned philanthropist and humanitarian, at one point contributing a quarter of the aid delivered to Ireland aboard the steamship Constellation during the famine of the later 1870s.[1] In 1897, he and his brother, Michael, founded the Grace Institute for the education of women, especially immigrants.
Opposing the famous Tammany Hall, Grace was elected as the first Irish American Catholic mayor of New York City in 1880.[2] He conducted a reform administration attacking police scandals, patronage and organized vice; reduced the tax rate and broke up the Louisiana Lottery. Defeated the following year, he was re-elected in 1884 on an Independent ticket but lost again the following year.[3] During his second term, Grace received the Statue of Liberty as a gift from France.
His nephew Cecil Grace attempted a crossing of the English Channel in December 1910 in an aeroplane. He flew from Dover to Calais. However in coming back he became disoriented and over Dover flew northeast over the Goodwin Sands toward the North Sea and was lost.[4]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edward Cooper |
Mayor of New York City 1881–1882 |
Succeeded by Franklin Edson |
| Preceded by Franklin Edson |
Mayor of New York City 1885–1886 |
Succeeded by Abram Hewitt |