Morris Ketchum Jesup

Morris Ketchum Jesup
Born	Westport, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	22 January 1908(1908-01-22) (aged 77) New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Banker, philanthropist
Known for	President of the American Museum of Natural History; benefactor of scientific research and the arts

Morris Ketchum Jesup (June 21, 1830 – January 22, 1908) was a distinguished American banker and philanthropist. He held the presidency of the American Museum of Natural History and was a significant benefactor of both scientific endeavors and the arts, notably providing support to Frederic Edwin Church.

Early life

Born in Westport, Connecticut in 1830, Jesup was the son of Charles Jesup and Abigail Sherwood. His lineage traces back to Edward Jessup, an early settler of Middleburg on Long Island, now known as Elmhurst, Queens, who owned extensive land in the area presently called Hunts Point, Bronx.

Career

Jesup relocated to New York City in 1842, where he acquired valuable business skills before launching his own banking enterprise in 1852. By 1856, he had founded MK Jesup & Company, which later became Cuyler, Morgan & Jesup. He gained recognition as a prominent financier and withdrew from active business pursuits in 1884.

Philanthropy

Jesup’s philanthropic activities began prior to his retirement. During the American Civil War, he played a key role in organizing the United States Christian Commission, which provided assistance to injured soldiers. He was instrumental in establishing YMCA New York and assumed its presidency in 1872.

Following 1860, Jesup contributed to the creation and leadership of the Five Points House of Industry in Manhattan, offering vocational education to European immigrants. In 1881, he took on the presidency of the New York City Mission and Tract Society, supporting initiatives such as the DeWitt Memorial Church on the Lower East Side aimed at immigrant populations. Additionally, he donated $100,000 to New York City’s Woman's Hospital.

A foremost supporter of scientific exploration, Jesup financed Arctic expeditions led by Robert Peary and was appointed president of the Peary Arctic Club in 1899. He sponsored the Jesup North Pacific Expedition (1897-1902), a landmark ethnological study directed by anthropologist Franz Boas.

Jesup was also an influential art collector and patron, especially endorsing Frederic Edwin Church. His patronage facilitated Church’s creation of the 1871 painting The Parthenon, which became part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection through Jesup’s considerable bequest after his wife passed away in 1915.

His contributions to education included support for Tuskegee Institute, aiding George Washington Carver’s mobile agricultural education program. He served as treasurer for the John F. Slater Fund dedicated to freedmen’s education and participated on boards such as the Peabody Educational Board and General Education Board. Jesup gifted $51,000 to Yale Divinity School and donated Landbery Arabic manuscripts valued at $20,000 to Yale University; Williams College also received $35,000 from him. Furthermore, he presented Jesup Hall to Union Theological Seminary.

In 1881, upon becoming president of the American Museum of Natural History, Jesup made substantial donations throughout his life and left a $1 million legacy. As chairman of the New York Chamber of Commerce Forestry Committee beginning in 1883, he advocated for conservation policies that contributed significantly to creating Adirondack Park in New York State by 1894. His efforts secured legal protections for forested areas critical to businesses relying on Hudson River waterways.

Jesup held trusteeship (1884–1892) and chaired the board (1893–1908) at the Syrian Protestant College (currently American University of Beirut), financing infrastructure including Post Hall which houses its Archaeological Museum and Geology Department.

Between 1899 and 1907, Jesup served as president of the New York Chamber of Commerce and was its largest financial contributor toward constructing its new headquarters. He was a member of the prestigious Jekyll Island Club alongside prominent financiers like J.P. Morgan and William Rockefeller.

In his native Westport, he financed building projects including the establishment of the Westport Public Library.

Personal life

In 1854, Morris wed Maria van Antwerp DeWitt (1834–1914), the daughter of Reverend Thomas DeWitt Jr., who served for many years as pastor of New York City's Collegiate Dutch Church. Maria's sister was married to Theodore Cuyler, who acted as general counsel for the Pennsylvania Railroad and was the father of Thomas DeWitt Cuyler.

Jesup passed away on January 22, 1908, at the age of 77, at his residence on Madison Avenue in New York City. His final resting place is Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

Legacy and honors

• In recognition of his charitable support for immigrants from the Russian Empire, Tsar Nicholas II bestowed knighthood upon Jesup in 1905.
• Columbia University’s Jesup Lectureship is named in his honor.
• The Morris K. Jesup Psychological Laboratory at Vanderbilt University's Peabody campus holds the distinction of being the first facility of its kind worldwide.
• Greenland’s northernmost mainland point, Cape Morris Jesup, along with the Morris Jesup Glacier, carry his name.
• The American Museum of Natural History honors Jesup within its Northwest Coast Indians hall.
• The city of Jesup in Iowa was named to commemorate him.
• The Jesup Memorial Library located in Bar Harbor, Maine, was established by his wife following his death as a tribute.
• Both Jesup Trail in Acadia National Park and its association with his wife bear his name.

See also

• Westport Public Library

References

Attribution

External links

• Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History – Items and photographs from the Jesup North Pacific Expedition 1897–1902 (found under Collections Online, section Collections Highlights).
• Archives of the Peary Arctic Club – Correspondence between Morris Ketchum Jesup and Robert E. Peary