John R. Drexel
John R. Drexel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | May 18, 1935 (aged 72) New York, New York |
| Occupation(s) | Banker socialite |
| Spouse |
Alice Gordon Troth (m. 1886) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Anthony Joseph Drexel Ellen B. Rozet |
| Relatives | Anthony Joseph Drexel Jr. (brother) Alexander Van Rensselaer (brother-in-law) Francis Anthony Drexel (uncle) Joseph William Drexel (uncle) Katharine Drexel (cousin) Anthony Drexel Biddle Sr. (cousin) Francis Martin Drexel (grandfather) |
John Rozet Drexel (March 3, 1863 – May 18, 1935) was a prominent American banker and member of high society.
Early life
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John was the eldest surviving son among nine siblings of financier Anthony Joseph Drexel (1826–1893) and Ellen (Rozet) Drexel (1832–1891). His brothers and sisters included Emilie Taylor Drexel, Frances Katherine Drexel, Mae E. Drexel, Sarah Rozet "Sallie" Drexel—who married Alexander Van Rensselaer—Anthony Joseph Drexel Jr., and George William Childs Drexel.
In 1871, his father partnered with John Pierpont Morgan to establish the influential banking firm Drexel, Morgan & Co, where Morgan held a junior partnership. Additionally, his father founded Drexel University in 1891. John's paternal lineage traced back to Austrian-born banker Francis Martin Drexel, while his maternal grandparents were Mary Ann (Laning) Roset and John Roset, a Philadelphia merchant of French descent.
Career
Following private tutoring and schooling, Drexel entered his father’s banking firm, Drexel & Co. in Philadelphia and attained partnership status. Soon afterward, he withdrew from active business to oversee his inherited wealth.
Residences
The family relocated to New York City in 1901 and by 1903 had commissioned a grand limestone mansion at the corner of 1 East 62nd Street and Fifth Avenue. This residence was designed by the Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer. Before their home was completed, they leased notable Manhattan properties including those owned by Frederick W. Vanderbilt and Samuel D. Babcock. Their New York mansion was sold in 1929 to James Blanchard Clews, senior partner at the brokerage firm Henry Clews & Co..
In Newport, Rhode Island, the couple first constructed a modest cottage named Cliff Lawn, which was eventually passed on to their son John. Subsequently, they purchased and extensively renovated the nearby mansion Fairholme, located within the Ochre Point–Cliffs Historic District. The remodeling likely involved architect Trumbauer’s expertise; Fairholme had originally been designed in Stick style by Frank Furness for Fairman Rogers. The estate was later sold to Robert R. Young in 1942.
With the onset of the Great Depression, the family moved to Paris following their daughter’s elopement. Initially residing at the Hotel Ritz, they later acquired a spacious townhouse at 34 Rue François Premier. They adorned this residence with French antiques and amassed an extensive art collection displayed within a specially constructed wing. To accommodate Mrs. Drexel’s purchase of 40,000 flower beds at auction, they expanded their property by acquiring and demolishing the neighboring house to create a large garden area.
Personal life
On April 27, 1886, Drexel united in marriage with Alice Gordon Troth (1865–1947) at St. James' Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, officiated by Rev. Dr. Morton. She was the offspring of William Penn Troth and Clara Sharpless Townsend, both from Philadelphia. Together, they had four children:
- Lillian Mae Drexel (1889–1894), who passed away during childhood.
- John Rozet Drexel Jr. (1890–1936), who wed Elizabeth Hough Thompson in 1918; their marriage ended in divorce in 1924. The following year, he married Jane Barbour, a descendant of President Zachary Taylor.
- Alice Gordon Drexel (1892–1959), a socialite who eloped with Captain William Barrett of the Army Air Service, son of Oregon State Senator William N. Barrett; the couple separated after one year.
- Gordon Preston Drexel (1895–1964), who remained unmarried and devoted much of his life to travel.
In 1903, Alice was honored as a guest by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra at Windsor Castle and during Ascot Racecourse festivities. Drexel owned the steam yacht Sultana, although his interest in yachting was less pronounced compared to his brother, Colonel Drexel.
Drexel passed away on May 18, 1935, in Paris due to a stroke shortly after the death of his brother Anthony. The majority of his estate was bequeathed to John Jr. and Alice, with an estate valued at $1,285,292 under the jurisdiction of the Philadelphia courts. Upon Alice’s death in 1947, she left most of her assets—including substantial cash reserves, jewelry, artwork, antiques, and various properties located in Paris, New York, Newport, and Philadelphia—to her grandson John R. Drexel III, along with a significant trust fund.
Descendants
Through his son John Jr., Drexel was grandfather to John Rozet Drexel III (1919–2007), who married Noreen Stonor, daughter of Ralph Stonor, 5th Baron Camoys and American Mildred Constance Sherman of Stonor Park. Following Lady Camoys' death in 1943, Noreen and John inherited the Stonors' Newport estate, Stonor Lodge, which was destroyed by fire in 2016. Additional grandchildren include David Anthony Drexel (1927–2003), who married Joan Gripenberg, daughter of Finnish diplomat Georg Achates Gripenberg; and Jane Barbour Drexel (1929–2008), who was married first to Harry Marshall Vale Jr., then to John Porteous II.
From his daughter Alice came Edwin Gerald William Barrett (1920–1921), who died during infancy.