Samuel Ward (banker)
Samuel Ward III | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Died | November 27, 1839 (aged 53) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, philanthropist |
| Known for | Partner at Prime, Ward & King; President of Bank of Commerce (New York); founding University of the City of New York; founding New York Temperance Society |
Samuel Ward III (May 1, 1786 – November 27, 1839) was a prominent figure in American banking.
Early life
Samuel Ward III was born in Rhode Island on May 1, 1786, to parents Samuel Ward Jr. and Phebe Greene. His lineage featured distinguished ancestors, including his paternal grandfather, Samuel Ward Sr., as well as his maternal grandfather, William Greene.
Career
Ward launched his professional journey working as a clerk at a banking firm and advanced to partner status by 1808 when he joined Prime, Ward & King, where he remained actively involved until his passing. In 1838, he arranged a substantial loan close to $5 million from the Bank of England, which played a critical role in enabling banks to reinstate specie payments. Additionally, he established the Bank of Commerce in New York and held the position of its president.
He was instrumental in founding the University of the City of New York (presently known as New York University) and also initiated the New York Temperance Society, serving as its inaugural president. Ward was a benefactor to various charitable organizations and made significant donations to Protestant Episcopal churches and educational institutions across the western United States. His residence was located at the intersection of Fourth Street and Broadway in New York City.
Personal life
In October 1812, Samuel Ward III married Julia Rush Cutler, a poet and great-niece of Francis Marion. Together, they had seven children, among them:
- Samuel Cutler "Sam" Ward (1814–1884), known for his lobbying work; he married Emily Astor, daughter of William Backhouse Astor Sr.
- Henry Ward (1818–1839)
- Julia Ward (1819–1910), a poet who became the wife of reformer Samuel Gridley Howe
- Louisa Cutler Ward (1823–1897), who wed sculptor Thomas Gibson Crawford and later artist Luther Terry
- Francis Marion Ward (1820–1847)
- Anne Eliza Ward Maillard (1824–1895)
Descendants
His son Sam Ward fathered two children with Emily Astor before her death. Their surviving daughter, Margaret Astor Ward, married John Winthrop Chanler, producing eleven offspring including notable figures such as William A. Chanler, Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler, and Robert Winthrop Chanler. Following Emily's passing, Sam remarried Medora Grymes and had two additional children who died during the 1860s.
Julia Ward had six children: Julia Romana Howe, Florence Marion Howe, Henry Marion Howe, Laura Elizabeth Howe, Maud Howe, and Samuel Gridley Howe Jr. She was also related as an aunt to novelist Francis Marion Crawford.