Theodore Roosevelt Sr.

Theodore Roosevelt Sr.
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Name	Theodore Roosevelt Sr.
Birth date	September 22, 1831
Birth place	New York City, New York, United States
Death date	February 9, 1878
Death place	New York City, New York, United States
Occupation	Businessman, philanthropist
Spouse	Martha Bulloch Roosevelt
Children	Theodore Roosevelt, Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson

Theodore Roosevelt Sr. was a member of the wealthy and influential Roosevelt family of New York City, New York, and the father of the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist, known for his work with the American Museum of Natural History and the New York City Mission Society. Roosevelt Sr. was also a supporter of the Union Army during the American Civil War and was friends with notable figures such as William Evarts and Joseph Choate. He was a graduate of Columbia University and a member of the New York Yacht Club.

● Early life and education

Theodore Roosevelt Sr. was born on September 22, 1831, in New York City, New York, to Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt and Margaret Barnhill Roosevelt. He was the third of five children and grew up in a wealthy family with strong ties to the Dutch Reformed Church. Roosevelt Sr. attended Columbia University, where he studied classics and literature under the tutelage of professors such as Charles Anthon and Francis Lieber. He was also a member of the Philolexian Society, a literary and debating club at Columbia University, and was friends with fellow members such as John Jacob Astor IV and William Astor. After graduating from Columbia University in 1849, Roosevelt Sr. traveled to Europe with his family, visiting cities such as London, Paris, and Rome, and meeting notable figures such as Napoleon III and Pope Pius IX.

● Business career

Theodore Roosevelt Sr. began his business career in the 1850s, working in the import-export business with his father's company, Roosevelt and Son. He later became a partner in the firm and helped to expand its operations, establishing trade relationships with companies such as Baring Brothers and Rothschild & Sons. Roosevelt Sr. was also a member of the New York Stock Exchange and served on the boards of companies such as the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company and the New York and Erie Railroad. He was a supporter of the Transcontinental Railroad and was friends with notable railroad executives such as Leland Stanford and Mark Hopkins. Roosevelt Sr. was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York and served on the committee that organized the 1867 Paris Exposition.

● Philanthropy and social work

Theodore Roosevelt Sr. was a dedicated philanthropist and social worker, and was involved with a number of charitable organizations in New York City, including the New York City Mission Society and the Children's Aid Society. He was a strong supporter of the Young Men's Christian Association and served on its board of directors, along with other notable figures such as William E. Dodge and John Wanamaker. Roosevelt Sr. was also a member of the American Red Cross and helped to organize relief efforts during the American Civil War, working with organizations such as the United States Sanitary Commission and the Christian Commission. He was a friend and supporter of notable social reformers such as Dorothea Dix and Clara Barton, and was a member of the National Conference of Charities and Correction.

● Family and personal life

Theodore Roosevelt Sr. married Martha Bulloch Roosevelt in 1853, and the couple had four children, including Theodore Roosevelt, Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, and Anna Roosevelt Cowles. He was a member of the New York Yacht Club and enjoyed sailing and hunting, and was friends with notable sportsmen such as Jay Gould and William K. Vanderbilt. Roosevelt Sr. was also a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and served on its board of trustees, along with other notable figures such as William H. Vanderbilt and Henry Gurdon Marquand. He was a supporter of the American Museum of Natural History and helped to establish the New York Zoological Society, working with notable naturalists such as Henry Fairfield Osborn and Madison Grant.

● Death and legacy

Theodore Roosevelt Sr. died on February 9, 1878, in New York City, New York, at the age of 46, due to complications from stomach cancer. He was buried in the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, and was eulogized by notable figures such as William Evarts and Joseph Choate. Roosevelt Sr.'s legacy as a philanthropist and social worker continues to be celebrated, and he is remembered as a pioneering figure in the development of social services in New York City. His son, Theodore Roosevelt, went on to become the 26th President of the United States, and his other children, including Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt and Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, were also involved in philanthropic and social work. The Theodore Roosevelt Sr. Memorial was established in his honor, and he is remembered as a notable figure in the history of the Roosevelt family and the United States. Category:American philanthropists