Beekman Winthrop
Encyclopedia
Beekman Winthrop was a New York
lawyer
and Governor of Puerto Rico
from 1904 to 1907. He was later an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
.
The son of Robert Winthrop
, Beekman came from a family of wealth and influence in New York (though he was born in Orange, New Jersey
) and attended Harvard University
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
where he received an undergraduate degree in 1897 and a law degree
in 1900. A descendant of both John Winthrop
, first Governor of Massachusetts, and John Winthrop, the Younger
, first Governor of Connecticut, within four years after graduating he became first a personal secretary to (future President) William Howard Taft
while he was Governor-General of the Philippines
, and later was appointed as a judge
in the Court of First Instance
in the Philippines
. He was known to be a personal friend of Theodore Roosevelt
and was appointed by him in 1904 as Governor of Puerto Rico, at the age of only 28.
Winthrop took office as governor on July 4, 1904, and served until April 17, 1907. On his inauguration, he promised improvements to the educational system of Puerto Rico. Winthrop was a strong proponent of bringing citizenship and locally elected officials to Puerto Rico.
In 1907, Winthrop was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1909, he was made Assistant Secretary of the Navy
by President Taft, a post he retained (with time as Acting Secretary) until 1913.
Following his public life, he was a director of National City Bank. He resigned from that position in 1916. He subsequently worked as a director of Robert Winthrop and Co.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
from 1904 to 1907. He was later an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
.
The son of Robert Winthrop
Robert Winthrop (1833-1892)
Robert Winthrop was a wealthy banker and Capitalist in New York City.- Family :He was the son of Thomas Charles Winthrop and Georgianna Winthrop and the brother of Civil War General Frederic Winthrop...
, Beekman came from a family of wealth and influence in New York (though he was born in Orange, New Jersey
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
) and attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
where he received an undergraduate degree in 1897 and a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
in 1900. A descendant of both John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
, first Governor of Massachusetts, and John Winthrop, the Younger
John Winthrop, the Younger
John Winthrop , generally known as John Winthrop the Younger, was governor of Connecticut.He was born in Groton, England, the son of John Winthrop, founding governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony...
, first Governor of Connecticut, within four years after graduating he became first a personal secretary to (future President) William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
while he was Governor-General of the Philippines
Governor-General of the Philippines
The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain and the United States, and briefly by Great Britain, from 1565 to 1935....
, and later was appointed as a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in the Court of First Instance
Court of First Instance
The General Court is a jurisdictional instance of the Court of Justice of the European Union. From its inception on 1 January 1989 to 30 November 2009, it was known as the Court of First Instance .-Competence:...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He was known to be a personal friend of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
and was appointed by him in 1904 as Governor of Puerto Rico, at the age of only 28.
Winthrop took office as governor on July 4, 1904, and served until April 17, 1907. On his inauguration, he promised improvements to the educational system of Puerto Rico. Winthrop was a strong proponent of bringing citizenship and locally elected officials to Puerto Rico.
In 1907, Winthrop was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
United States Secretary of the Treasury
The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United...
by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1909, he was made Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Assistant Secretary of the Navy is the title given to certain civilian senior officials in the United States Department of the Navy....
by President Taft, a post he retained (with time as Acting Secretary) until 1913.
Following his public life, he was a director of National City Bank. He resigned from that position in 1916. He subsequently worked as a director of Robert Winthrop and Co.