Seward Prosser
Seward Prosser | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 1, 1942 (aged 71) Woods Hole, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, philanthropist |
| Known for | Head of Bankers Trust |
Seward Prosser (March 1, 1871 – October 1, 1942) was a prominent American financier and philanthropist who served as the head of Bankers Trust.
Early life
Prosser was born in Buffalo, New York to Henry Wilbur Prosser and Anna (née Fay) Prosser. His family relocated to Brooklyn during his youth, where he attended public schools before continuing his education at the Englewood School for Boys in New Jersey.
Career
He commenced his professional journey with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and later became a partner at Prosser & Homans, acting as representatives for Equitable Life. Between 1907 and 1912, Prosser held the position of vice president at the Astor Trust Company. In 1912, he assumed the presidency of Liberty National Bank, and two years later, in 1914, he succeeded Benjamin Strong Jr. as president of Bankers Trust. He maintained this role until 1923, after which he continued contributing as a director, chairman of the board of trustees, and member of the executive committee.
In addition to his banking leadership, Prosser served on the boards of several major enterprises including General Electric Company, Astor Trust Company, Tobacco Products Corporation, American Surety Company, Bankers Safe Deposit Company, International Nickel Company of Canada, Kennecott Copper Corporation, Graphite Metallizing Corporation, Braden Copper Company, and Utah Copper Company.
Personal life
On October 25, 1902, Prosser married Constance Barber, who was originally from England. The couple resided in Englewood, New Jersey, and Woods Hole, Massachusetts. They had three daughters:
- Barbara Prosser (1903–1984), who wed attorney John Archer Gifford.
- Anna Fay Prosser (1907–1973), married Dan Platt Caulkins in 1927; following their divorce, she married Leighton Hale Stevens in 1939.
- Constance Mary Prosser (1910–1980), who married banker Vance McCaulley in 1929. After his death in 1935, she became the wife of Richard King Mellon, president of Mellon National Bank, in 1936. Upon Mellon's passing in 1970, she married Peter Eustace Burrell, CBE.
Prosser was affiliated with prestigious organizations such as the Union League Club and the University Club of New York.
He passed away at his residence in Woods Hole on October 1, 1942. His funeral service at Englewood's First Presbyterian Church gathered over a thousand attendees, including upwards of forty honorary pallbearers from the banking and business communities. His widow died in July 1948.
Descendants
Through his eldest daughter Barbara, Prosser was the grandfather of Prosser Gifford, who served as Director for the Office of Scholarly Programs at the Library of Congress and was recognized for his scholarship on British and German colonialism in Africa.