Everything about The Whitney Family totally explained
The
Whitney family is an
American family notable for their social prominence, wealth, business enterprises and philanthropy founded by John Whitney (1592-1673) who came from
London,
England to
Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635. There are a number of very prominent members of this family including inventor
Eli Whitney.
(External Link
).
The New York Whitneys
Rise to prominence
The prominence of the New York branch of the Whitney family began with
William Collins Whitney (1841-1904). Born in
Conway, Massachusetts, he was a younger brother to
Boston industrialist
Henry Melville Whitney (1839-1923). William Collins Whitney became an extremely wealthy businessman who made the Whitney name synonymous with
thoroughbred horse racing in the
United States.
Horse racing
The
Whitney Handicap at
Saratoga Race Course is named in the family's honor. Whitney-owned horses have won every major race in the United States including multiple wins at the
Kentucky Derby,
Preakness Stakes, and the
Belmont Stakes. Members of the family also maintained stables and breeding facilities in
Newmarket (in
Suffolk,
United Kingdom), where they won important races including the prestigious
Epsom Derby.
A number of the New York Whitney family members were owners of thoroughbred racing operations under various names including
Greentree Farm in
Lexington, Kentucky. Today, Whitney family members remain involved with horse racing, notably in 2004 when
Marylou Whitney apologized on national television for denying
Smarty Jones the
U.S. Triple Crown after her colt
Birdstone won the
Belmont Stakes.
Other endeavors
In addition to horse racing, a number of Whitney family members were important financiers and business owners, statesmen,
philanthropists.
Joan Whitney Payson, an avid sportswoman, was the first owner of the
New York Mets Major League Baseball team from its founding in 1962 until her death in 1975. The
Whitney Museum of American Art in
New York City was founded by a Whitney-by-marriage,
Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.
Prominent descendants of John Whitney
By marriage:
Mary Elizabeth Altemus (1906-1988)
Betsey Cushing (1908-1998)
Leonard K. Elmhirst (1893-1974)
Marie Louise Schroeder (b. 1925)
Willard Dickerman Straight (1880-1918)
Gertrude Vanderbilt (1875-1942)Further Information
Get more info on 'Whitney Family'.
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