Salem Howe Wales
Salem Howe Wales | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | December 2, 1902 New York City, US | (aged 77)
Other names | Salem H. Wales |
Occupation(s) | Journalist, politician, philanthropist |
Salem Howe Wales (October 4, 1825 – December 2, 1902) was an American journalist, politician, and philanthropist who held various leadership offices in the government of New York City, served as managing editor of the Scientific American, and co-founded the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Wales was father-in-law to U.S. Senator and Secretary of War Elihu Root, who served as President of the Union League of New York, while Wales served as Vice-president.
Early life and education
Wales was born in
Political career
An opponent of
Wales was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1872 and 1876.[3]
Civic involvement
Wales was a co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and served as treasurer and as a trustee for many years. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania and the New York Homeopathic Medical College and served as board presidents for both. Governor John Alden Dix named him to the board of Middletown State Hospital in 1911–12. Wales served on the boards of the National Bank of North America, the Hanover Fire Insurance Company, the Southampton Bank, and the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton. He also served on the commission that oversaw the building of the East River Bridge.[3][4]
Eastman Johnson painted Wales' portrait in 1882. The portrait is in the collection of the Union League Club of New York, which Wales served as a vice president and chair of the executive and financial committees for many years. He was one of the men responsible for the construction of the club's current headquarters.[5][3]
Personal life
Wales married Frances Elizabeth Johnson of Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1851. They had four children: Edith, Clara Frances, Edward Howe, and Joseph Howe.[1] In 1878, Clara married Elihu Root, Secretary of State, and President and Chairman of many foundations for Andrew Carnegie. Edward's daughter, Ruth Wales, married horticulturist and collector Henry Francis du Pont in 1916, a member of the du Pont family.[3]
References
- ^ a b Wales, Charles P. (1998). The Wales Family: A Genealogy. Herndon, VA: C. P. Wales. p. 66.
- ISBN 978-0-912724-61-4.
- ^ a b c d e f Harrison, Mitchell Charles (1900). New York State's Prominent and Progressive Men. Vol. 3. New York Tribune. pp. 347–348 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
- ^ "Salem Howe Wales". Catalog of American Portraits, National Portrait Gallery. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-22.