Edgar F. Luckenbach
Encyclopedia
Edgar Frederick Luckenbach, Sr. ( January 19, 1868 - April 26, 1943 ) was an American shipping magnate who inherited his father's steamship company, which he incorporated in 1913 under the name the Luckenbach Steamship Company, Inc. ( also known as the Luckenbach Lines ).
. His parents, who were both born in Germany, were Lewis ( Ludwig ) Luckenbach ( died Aug. 18, 1906 ) and Mary E. Frey ( died Jan. 24, 1926 ). His family then moved to Brooklyn, where Edgar attended public schools. After graduating from high school, Edgar went to Rondout, New York
, to join his father in the shipping business, which had been founded in 1850.
Commodore Luckenbach married three times in his life. His first marriage was to Florence Bissell, of Brooklyn. However, she died a few months after their marriage. His next marriage was to Susan Vickers, which terminated in divorce. Finally, he married Andrea Fenwick in 1919, and they remained married until her death at 50 in 1937. The family lived at Elm Court, their estate in Sands Point, New York
, and usually wintered in Palm Beach, Florida
.
Commodore Luckenbach had one son with his second wife, named Lewis, and two children with his third wife, named Edgar Frederick Luckenbach, Jr. ( May 17, 1925 - August 9, 1974 ) and Andrea (d. April 1, 1962 at the age of 41). In his later life, Commodore Luckenbach had a tumultuous relationship with his daughter. After her marriage to William Dobbs in 1939, a man of whom he did not approve, the Commodore refused to give her any money for support. Andrea was then forced to withdraw early from her trust fund, which was set up by her grandmother. While just 33 Andrea was shot four times by her estranged 3rd husband Frederick O. Hammer in June 1954 in the paddock of the Delaware Park race course, but survived.
. It then grew to include salvage and clipper ships, and finally Luckenbach began to acquire steamships. When Lewis Luckenbach died in 1906, his son succeeded him as president, and moved the company to 120 Wall Street
in Manhattan. At that time, his ships sailed all over the world, engaging in trade.
After the First World War, Luckenbach decided it was in the best interest of the company to focus on domestic trade. He established terminal facilities throughout the United States, including in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Mobile and Galveston.
Commodore Luckenbach was also a strong advocate of Federal control of shipping rates.
During World War II, the Luckenbach Steamship Co. was once again called into action by the military. At the onset of the war, the company had twenty-three ships. His ships ferried soldiers between Europe and the United States again throughout the war.
, on April 26, 1943. The commodore was 75 years old.
The commodore was very active in club affairs. He was a member of the Atlantic Yacht Club
, Sands Point Bath Club, New York Yacht Club
, the Turf and Field Club, the United Hunts Club and the Everglades Club of Palm Beach.
In business, he was a member of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York, the Commerce and Industry Association of New York and the New York Produce Exchange. He was elected president of the American Steamship Owners Association in 1927, but refused the post because of his busy business.
The commodore was also an avid horseman. His saddle mare, Lucky Nira, won the commodore many horse shows throughout the 1920s and 1930s. His third wife, Andrea, also held many horse shows at their country estate.
A few years after the death of the commodore, the 104 acre (0.42087344 km²) that comprised his estate, Elm Court, in Sands Point, New York
, was put up for auction. The estate consisted of a main 22-room house, a 12-room dwelling, a 4-room cottage, a 7-room house and two 8-room homes. Also on the estate were a six-car and a four-car garage, greenhouses, orchards, a chicken coop and a bathhouse on the beach.
Personal life
Commodore Luckenbach was born in Kingston, New YorkKingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
. His parents, who were both born in Germany, were Lewis ( Ludwig ) Luckenbach ( died Aug. 18, 1906 ) and Mary E. Frey ( died Jan. 24, 1926 ). His family then moved to Brooklyn, where Edgar attended public schools. After graduating from high school, Edgar went to Rondout, New York
Rondout, New York
Rondout was a village located on the north side of Rondout Creek near its mouth on the Hudson River in Ulster County and includes the Rondout-West Strand Historic District....
, to join his father in the shipping business, which had been founded in 1850.
Commodore Luckenbach married three times in his life. His first marriage was to Florence Bissell, of Brooklyn. However, she died a few months after their marriage. His next marriage was to Susan Vickers, which terminated in divorce. Finally, he married Andrea Fenwick in 1919, and they remained married until her death at 50 in 1937. The family lived at Elm Court, their estate in Sands Point, New York
Sands Point, New York
Sands Point is a village located at the northernmost tip of the Cow Neck Peninsula on the North Shore of Long Island in Nassau County, New York. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 2,675. The Incorporated Village of Sands Point is in the Town of North...
, and usually wintered in Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
.
Commodore Luckenbach had one son with his second wife, named Lewis, and two children with his third wife, named Edgar Frederick Luckenbach, Jr. ( May 17, 1925 - August 9, 1974 ) and Andrea (d. April 1, 1962 at the age of 41). In his later life, Commodore Luckenbach had a tumultuous relationship with his daughter. After her marriage to William Dobbs in 1939, a man of whom he did not approve, the Commodore refused to give her any money for support. Andrea was then forced to withdraw early from her trust fund, which was set up by her grandmother. While just 33 Andrea was shot four times by her estranged 3rd husband Frederick O. Hammer in June 1954 in the paddock of the Delaware Park race course, but survived.
Business
When Commodore Luckenbach joined his father's company, the business was strictly for towing boats on the Hudson RiverHudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. It then grew to include salvage and clipper ships, and finally Luckenbach began to acquire steamships. When Lewis Luckenbach died in 1906, his son succeeded him as president, and moved the company to 120 Wall Street
120 Wall Street
120 Wall Street is a skyscraper in Wall Street, New York City, United States which was completed in 1930. The building is 399 ft tall, has 34 floors, and is located along Wall Street, Pine Street and South Street.-History:...
in Manhattan. At that time, his ships sailed all over the world, engaging in trade.
After the First World War, Luckenbach decided it was in the best interest of the company to focus on domestic trade. He established terminal facilities throughout the United States, including in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Mobile and Galveston.
Commodore Luckenbach was also a strong advocate of Federal control of shipping rates.
Military service
The company played a large role in ship operations during both world wars. A claim Edgar Luckenbach liked to make was that his ships shuttled more soldiers between America and Europe than any other steamship company. A total of four Luckenbach ships were sunk during the war, and a fifth was crippled so that it had to be towed back to shore.During World War II, the Luckenbach Steamship Co. was once again called into action by the military. At the onset of the war, the company had twenty-three ships. His ships ferried soldiers between Europe and the United States again throughout the war.
Death
After months of declining health. Commodore Edgar F. Luckenbach died at his estate, Elm Court, in Sands Point, New YorkSands Point, New York
Sands Point is a village located at the northernmost tip of the Cow Neck Peninsula on the North Shore of Long Island in Nassau County, New York. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 2,675. The Incorporated Village of Sands Point is in the Town of North...
, on April 26, 1943. The commodore was 75 years old.
The commodore was very active in club affairs. He was a member of the Atlantic Yacht Club
Atlantic Yacht Club
The Atlantic Yacht Club is a family-oriented yacht club located on the shores of Gravesend Bay in south Brooklyn. A storied member of the New York sailing community, the club is perhaps best known for its contributions to New York sailing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it featured...
, Sands Point Bath Club, New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
, the Turf and Field Club, the United Hunts Club and the Everglades Club of Palm Beach.
In business, he was a member of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York, the Commerce and Industry Association of New York and the New York Produce Exchange. He was elected president of the American Steamship Owners Association in 1927, but refused the post because of his busy business.
The commodore was also an avid horseman. His saddle mare, Lucky Nira, won the commodore many horse shows throughout the 1920s and 1930s. His third wife, Andrea, also held many horse shows at their country estate.
A few years after the death of the commodore, the 104 acre (0.42087344 km²) that comprised his estate, Elm Court, in Sands Point, New York
Sands Point, New York
Sands Point is a village located at the northernmost tip of the Cow Neck Peninsula on the North Shore of Long Island in Nassau County, New York. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 2,675. The Incorporated Village of Sands Point is in the Town of North...
, was put up for auction. The estate consisted of a main 22-room house, a 12-room dwelling, a 4-room cottage, a 7-room house and two 8-room homes. Also on the estate were a six-car and a four-car garage, greenhouses, orchards, a chicken coop and a bathhouse on the beach.