Warren Delano Jr.

Warren Delano Jr.
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Name	Warren Delano Jr.
Birth date	1809
Birth place	Newburgh, New York
Death date	1898
Death place	New York City
Occupation	Businessman, Financier
Spouse	Catherine Robbins Lyman
Children	Sara Delano Roosevelt, Warren Delano III
Relatives	Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt

Warren Delano Jr. was a prominent American businessman and financier who played a significant role in the China trade and Opium Wars. He was a member of the wealthy and influential Delano family and was closely related to several notable figures, including Franklin D. Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt. Delano's life and career were shaped by his experiences in Asia and his involvement in the shipping industry, which was dominated by companies like the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company. He was also associated with other prominent families, such as the Astor family and the Vanderbilt family, who were major players in the American economy.

● Early Life

Warren Delano Jr. was born in Newburgh, New York, to Warren Delano Sr. and Deborah Perry. His family was of English and French Huguenot descent and had a long history of involvement in the maritime trade, with connections to ports like Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia. Delano's early life was influenced by his family's business interests, which included shipping, trade, and finance, and he was likely exposed to the workings of companies like the Hudson's Bay Company and the Russian-American Company. He was educated at Columbia College and later studied law, but ultimately decided to pursue a career in business, following in the footsteps of his father and other notable businessmen like John Jacob Astor and Cornelius Vanderbilt.

● Career

Delano's career was marked by his involvement in the China trade, which was a lucrative but also highly competitive and often illegal business, with many companies, including the British East India Company, engaging in smuggling and other illicit activities. He worked for several companies, including Russell & Company, which was one of the largest and most influential trading companies in China at the time, with connections to other prominent companies like the Jardine Matheson and the Swire Group. Delano's experiences in Asia took him to ports like Canton, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, where he interacted with other notable figures, including Robert Fortune and Augustine Heard. He was also involved in the Opium Wars, which were a series of conflicts between China and Western powers, including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, and had significant implications for the global economy and the balance of power in Asia.

● Family and Personal Life

Delano married Catherine Robbins Lyman and had several children, including Sara Delano Roosevelt, who later married James Roosevelt I and became the mother of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. Delano's family was closely connected to other prominent families, including the Roosevelt family and the Astor family, and he was a member of several exclusive clubs and organizations, including the New York Yacht Club and the Union Club of the City of New York. He was also a supporter of various charitable causes, including the American Red Cross and the New York City Mission Society, and was involved in the Episcopal Church, which played a significant role in the social and cultural life of New York City.

● Later Life and Legacy

In his later years, Delano continued to be involved in business and finance, but also devoted more time to his family and personal interests, including yachting and travel. He was a member of the New York State Legislature and served on the board of several companies, including the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company and the New York and New England Railroad. Delano's legacy is closely tied to his family's history and his own experiences in Asia and the China trade, which had a profound impact on the global economy and the balance of power in Asia. He is also remembered as the grandfather of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who went on to become one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century, playing a key role in shaping the post-World War II international order and establishing the United Nations. Delano's life and career serve as a testament to the significant role that American businessmen and financiers played in shaping the global economy and international relations during the 19th century, with connections to other notable figures like John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan.