James W. Bleecker
James Ward Bleecker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | October 5, 1864 (aged 76) |
| Occupation | Financier |
| Known for | Fourth president of the New York Stock Exchange |
James Ward Bleecker (born October 16, 1787 – died October 5, 1864) was a distinguished American financier who held the position of the fourth president of the New York Stock Exchange.
Family
James was the offspring of John Jacob Bleecker (1745–1795) and Hester (née De Veaux) Bleecker. Among his siblings were Frederick Devoe Bleecker and John Schuyler Bleecker. His paternal lineage includes Jacobus Rutger Bleecker, the son of Albany’s mayor Rutger Jansen Bleecker, and Abigail (née Lispenard) Bleecker, whose father was Anthony Lispenard. His uncle, Anthony Lispenard Bleecker, gained prominence as a banker and merchant, with Bleecker Street in Manhattan bearing his name.
On August 17, 1811, James married Sarah Elizabeth Fanning (1796–1881), daughter of Edward Fanning. Together they had eleven children, among whom were:
- Sarah Fanning Bleeker (1812–1898)
- James Edmund Bleecker (1814–1859)
- John Rhinelander Bleecker (1816–1845), who wed Mary Elizabeth Clinton, granddaughter of James Clinton and niece to Governor DeWitt Clinton
- Mary Louisa Bleecker (1818–1864)
- Ann Elizabeth Bleecker (1822–1860)
- Henry Augustus Bleecker (1824–1860)
- Juliet Fanning Bleecker (1828–1908), spouse of Robert Chesebrough Rathbone
A number of their offspring died during infancy.
James Ward Bleecker died on October 5, 1864. Following his death, his New York Stock Exchange seat was auctioned for charitable purposes, fetching $460.
Career
In 1792, both his father John and cousin Garret Bleecker were among the twenty-six original signatories of the Buttonwood Agreement, which laid the foundation for securities trading in New York City prior to the establishment of the New York Stock Exchange. Initially, James focused on marine insurance before transitioning to securities trading.
He held the office of the fourth president of the New York Stock Exchange from 1827 until 1830, following Edward Lyde. During his administration, the Exchange saw the addition of the Mohawk and Hudson Rail Road, marking its first railroad listing. Beginning in 1833, he assumed the role of Treasurer for the Board—a post he maintained until his retirement in 1861, except for a brief interval in 1835 when John Ward occupied the position. His successor as Treasurer was LeGrand Lockwood.