Frederick Ellsworth Mather
Encyclopedia
Frederick Ellsworth Mather (May 23, 1809 – November 9, 1900) was an American military officer, lawyer and philanthropist
. He was a lineal descendant of the nonconformist, Rev. Richard Mather, who came from England to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1635, and on his father's side he was the grandson of the sister of Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth
.
His father died when he was five years of age, and he was reared as a farmer's boy by his grandfather, Colonel Oliver Mather.
At the age of eleven years he rescued a man and boy from drowning in a freshet.
, but desiring a college training he soon commenced a preparatory course, and was admitted to Yale in the second term
of Sophomore year. He was a founding member of the Skull and Bones
Society.
of Hartford, Connecticut
, and then entered the Yale Law School
. Toward the close of 1835 he became law clerk in a New York office, and after his admission as Counselor at Law in 1838 he immediately began practice by himself. After thirty-five years of successful practice he partially withdrew from business in 1872.
In 1837 he entered the 264th Regiment, 64th Brigade, New York State Infantry, of which he was commissioned successively First Lieutenant, Captain, Lieutenant Colonel, and in 1842 General.
In 1845 he was a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly
, from 1854 to 1857 a member of the Common Council of New York City, and for a number of years inspector and later trustee of the public schools.
For many years he devoted much attention to the conduct of public charities, and was an officer of the Prison Association, the
Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, the Sanitary Association, the Rose Beneficent Association, and others.
But he was most deeply interested in medical charities. From 1851 to the close of 1889 he was President of the Demilt Dispensary,
of which he was the originator. The results of a tour of inspection of hospitals and dispensaries abroad were embodied in the
25th Annual Report of this institution. He was one of the founders of the Roosevelt Hospital, and served many years as
a trustee. He aided in starting the Northeastern and Northwestern Dispensaries.
, of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and an officer of several important
business enterprises.
He was one of the originators of the New York Yale Alumni Association, and assisted in the organization of the Yale Law
School Alumni Association, and of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
In 1882 he retired from his law practice entirely, and made a long visit abroad.
, England, who died in 1884.
Early life
The son of Ellsworth and Laura (Wolcott) Mather, he was born in Windsor, ConnecticutWindsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
. He was a lineal descendant of the nonconformist, Rev. Richard Mather, who came from England to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1635, and on his father's side he was the grandson of the sister of Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth
Oliver Ellsworth
Oliver Ellsworth was an American lawyer and politician, a revolutionary against British rule, a drafter of the United States Constitution, and the third Chief Justice of the United States. While at the Federal Convention, Ellsworth moved to strike the word National from the motion made by Edmund...
.
His father died when he was five years of age, and he was reared as a farmer's boy by his grandfather, Colonel Oliver Mather.
At the age of eleven years he rescued a man and boy from drowning in a freshet.
Education
After the death of his grandfather in 1829, he spent a few months in the office of Judge Miller, of Ellington, ConnecticutEllington, Connecticut
Ellington is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Ellington was incorporated in May, 1786, from East Windsor. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 12,921...
, but desiring a college training he soon commenced a preparatory course, and was admitted to Yale in the second term
of Sophomore year. He was a founding member of the Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
Society.
Career
After graduation he resumed the study of law in the office of Judge Parsons and of Governor William W. EllsworthWilliam W. Ellsworth
William Wolcott Ellsworth was a Yale-educated attorney who served as the 30th Governor of Connecticut, a three-term United States Congressman, a Justice on the State Supreme Court, and who twice turned down nomination to the state's United States Senate seat...
of Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, and then entered the Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
. Toward the close of 1835 he became law clerk in a New York office, and after his admission as Counselor at Law in 1838 he immediately began practice by himself. After thirty-five years of successful practice he partially withdrew from business in 1872.
In 1837 he entered the 264th Regiment, 64th Brigade, New York State Infantry, of which he was commissioned successively First Lieutenant, Captain, Lieutenant Colonel, and in 1842 General.
In 1845 he was a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, from 1854 to 1857 a member of the Common Council of New York City, and for a number of years inspector and later trustee of the public schools.
For many years he devoted much attention to the conduct of public charities, and was an officer of the Prison Association, the
Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, the Sanitary Association, the Rose Beneficent Association, and others.
But he was most deeply interested in medical charities. From 1851 to the close of 1889 he was President of the Demilt Dispensary,
of which he was the originator. The results of a tour of inspection of hospitals and dispensaries abroad were embodied in the
25th Annual Report of this institution. He was one of the founders of the Roosevelt Hospital, and served many years as
a trustee. He aided in starting the Northeastern and Northwestern Dispensaries.
Later life
He was a member of the American Geographical SocietyAmerican Geographical Society
The American Geographical Society is an organization of professional geographers, founded in 1851 in New York City. Most fellows of the society are Americans, but among them have always been a significant number of fellows from around the world...
, of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and an officer of several important
business enterprises.
He was one of the originators of the New York Yale Alumni Association, and assisted in the organization of the Yale Law
School Alumni Association, and of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
In 1882 he retired from his law practice entirely, and made a long visit abroad.
Family
He married, in Hartford, Conn., on May 3, 1837, Ellen Poraeroy Goodrich, who died in 1871, by whom he had two sons and six daughters. He afterward married Charlotte Foster of Cumberland CountyCumberland County
Cumberland County may refer to:In Australia:* Cumberland County, New South Wales, the original county of the colony* the former name of Cumberland Land District, Tasmania, AustraliaIn England:...
, England, who died in 1884.