Benjamin Brewster (financier)
Benjamin Brewster | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Norwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | August 23, 1897 (aged 69) Cazenovia, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, industrial entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founding trustee of Standard Oil |
Benjamin Brewster (June 30, 1828 – August 23, 1897) was a prominent American financier, industrial entrepreneur, and one of the founding trustees of Standard Oil.
Early life
Born in 1828 in Norwich, Connecticut, Brewster was the son of Patrick Brewster, a descendant of the Mayflower Pilgrim William Brewster, and Catharine Fanny Roath. He received his education through Norwich’s public schooling system before beginning his career as a clerk in New York City.
Business career
During the California Gold Rush of 1849, Brewster relocated westward and partnered with Oliver Burr Jennings to open a general merchandise business in San Francisco, through which he accumulated considerable wealth. He returned to New York City in 1874 and collaborated with Jennings to engage with John D. Rockefeller in forming the Standard Oil Company. Upon establishment of the Standard Oil Trust in 1882, Brewster was appointed as one of its trustees.
Brewster was instrumental in advancing the Manhattan Elevated Railway project and managed significant railroad deals, including the restructuring of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway. His leadership roles extended to serving as vice president of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and holding directorships at the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, and the International Navigation Company, which owned the American Line steamship fleet.
Family and death
On June 9, 1863, Brewster married Elmina Hersey Dows in San Francisco. The couple had seven children, among them George Stephenson Brewster—whose granddaughter Sheila became connected to the Kennedy family—and Mary Dows Brewster, who wed Oliver Gould Jennings, thereby uniting influential industrial lineages.
In 1890, Brewster constructed a summer home called "Scrooby" in Cazenovia, named after his ancestor’s English estate. This property is currently operated as The Brewster Inn.
Benjamin Brewster passed away at his residence in Cazenovia in 1897 at age 69. His funeral pallbearers included distinguished individuals such as John D. Rockefeller and Henry H. Rogers.