James Roosevelt I

For other people named James Roosevelt, see James Roosevelt (disambiguation).
James Roosevelt I

Painting of James Roosevelt at Springwood Estate in Hyde Park, New York
Born July 16, 1828
Hyde Park, New York, U.S.
Died December 8, 1900 (aged 72)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma mater Union College
Occupation Businessman
Spouse(s) Rebecca Brien Howland
(m. 1853–1876; her death)
Sara Ann Delano
(m. 1880–1900; his death)
Children James Roosevelt Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Parent(s) Isaac Daniel Roosevelt
Mary Rebecca Aspinwall
Relatives
James with his son Franklin in 1895

James Roosevelt I (July 16, 1828 – December 8, 1900), known as "Squire James",[1] was an American businessman. He was the father of James Roosevelt Roosevelt and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was born in Hyde Park, New York to businessman Isaac Daniel Roosevelt (1790–1863) and Mary Rebecca Aspinwall (1809–1886). Isaac's parents were businessman Jacobus Roosevelt III and Catherine Welles. Mary's parents were John Aspinwall and Susan Howland.

In 1847, James Roosevelt graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York. He was an eligible bachelor: tall, slender, and wealthy, with considerable society connections. In 1853, he married his second cousin Rebecca Brien Howland (January 15, 1831 — August 21, 1876). They had one son, James Roosevelt "Rosey" Roosevelt.

Four years after Rebecca's death, he met a sixth cousin named Sara Ann Delano at a party celebrating graduation of his distant cousin Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (1858–1919) from Harvard University. James and Sara were married on October 7, 1880, and became the parents of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. James was reportedly a good father to Franklin, however his recurring heart problems eventually made him an invalid. Franklin reacted by becoming fiercely protective of his father.

Roosevelt's business interests were primarily in coal and transportation. He was vice president of the Delaware and Hudson Railway and president of the Southern Railway Security Company.

James died twenty years after he married Sara and left the bulk of his estate to her, with only a modest inheritance for Franklin.[2]

In popular culture

Roosevelt is voiced by John Lithgow in The Roosevelts, a 2014 documentary series by Ken Burns.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Miller, Nathan (1992). Theodore Roosevelt: A Life.
  2. ↑ Brands, H.W. (2008). Traitor to his Class. New York, NY: Doubleday. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-385-51958-8.

External links