Many names mentioned in other sections apply equally to New York city
but for lack of space they are not here again referred to. David
Jamison, one of the early Colonial lawyers in New York, was born in
Scotland. In 1707 he defended Francis Makemie, the Presbyterian
clergyman, when he was arrested for preaching in the city without a
license, and in 1710 he became Chief Justice of New Jersey. James
Graham (died c. 1700), Recorder of the city, was also a native of
Scotland. John Watts (1749-1836), of Scots parentage, was the last
Royal Recorder of the city, Speaker of the New York Assembly, Member
of Congress, 1793-96, and founder of the Leake and Watts Orphan
Asylum. Archibald Gracie, born in Dumfries, emigrated to America about
1778. Through his business enterprise he largely developed the
commercial importance of the port of New York. He was also founder of
the first Savings Bank in America, founder of the Lying-in Hospital of
the Cedar Street Presbyterian Church, President of the Chamber of
Commerce for twenty years, etc. Cadwallader David Golden (1769-1834),
grandson of Cadwallader Colden, was Mayor of the city from 1818 to
1821, and made an enviable record in that office. James Lenox
(1800-80), merchant, philanthropist, bibliophile, and founder of the
Lenox Library, now incorporated in the New York Public Library, was
one of the most useful citizens New York ever possessed. His public
benefactions were numerous, but only the largest were made public.
Among these were the Lenox Library, formerly at Fifth Avenue and
Seventieth Street; the Presbyterian Hospital, and liberal endowments
to Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Alexander
Turney Stewart (1803-76), merchant and philanthropist, born in Ireland
of Scots parents, established the great dry goods business now owned
by John Wanamaker. He was nominated as Secretary of the Treasury
(1869) but was not confirmed. Hugh Maxwell (1787-1873), born in
Paisley, was Assistant Junior Advocate General in 1814, District
Attorney for the city from 1819 to 1829, and Collector of the Port
(1849-52). Robert L. Stuart (1806-82) and his brother Alexander
(1810-79), sugar refiners, both gave large sums, estimated at over two
million dollars, to many charities, and the library, pictures, and
mineral and shell collections of the former are preserved in a
separate room of the New York Public Library. Hugh Auchincloss
(1817-90) and John Auchincloss, his brother, sons of Hugh Auchincloss
of Paisley, were prominent merchants in the city. Robert Lenox Kennedy
(b. 1822), banker and public spirited citizen, grandson of a Scot, was
President of the Trustees of the New York Public Library, an
institution largely Scottish in its foundation and endowment. James
Gibb, born in Scotland in 1829, a successful merchant, was President
of Brooklyn Park Commission. James Cruikshank (b. 1831), of Scottish
descent, was noted for his activity in furthering education in
Brooklyn.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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