Frederick Ferris Thompson
Encyclopedia
Frederick Ferris Thompson (1836 - 1899) was a prominent American
banker.
and Electa Thompson, Frederick grew up in a life of luxury. He attended Williams College
from 1852 to 1854, and was a member of St. Anthony Hall
, but left to go abroad at his father's request. In 1857, he married Mary Lee Clark, daughter of then governor of New York Myron Holley Clark.
That same year, Frederick, his father and his brother Samuel founded their first bank, "Thompson's Bank Note and Commercial Reporter". In 1863, the trio opened their third bank, called the "1st National Bank of the City of New York". The bank survives to this day as Citibank
.
In 1873 John and Samuel Thompson left the 1st National Bank to form the Chase National Bank, named after their friend and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase
. The bank survives to this day as JP Morgan Chase.
An amateur photographer, strong supporter of education, and noted philanthropist, Thompson and his wife donated large sums of money to numerous organizations, including Williams Alumni Association, the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, the American Geographical Society
, and the Union League
. Thompson also served on the board of trustees of Williams College
, Vassar College
, and Teachers College (now Columbia University
).
Thompson died on April 10, 1899 in New York City. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua, New York
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
banker.
Biography
Born in New York City on June 14, 1836 to JohnJohn Thompson (banker)
John Thompson was a United States banker, financial publisher, and dealer in bank notes. The son of a Revolutionary War soldier, he was born near Pittsfield, Mass. He worked as a teacher and lottery-ticket dealer before moving to New York 1832 to become a dealer in bank notes...
and Electa Thompson, Frederick grew up in a life of luxury. He attended Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
from 1852 to 1854, and was a member of St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall, also known as Saint Anthony Hall and The Order of St. Anthony, is a national college literary society also known as the Fraternity of Delta Psi at colleges in the United States of America. St...
, but left to go abroad at his father's request. In 1857, he married Mary Lee Clark, daughter of then governor of New York Myron Holley Clark.
That same year, Frederick, his father and his brother Samuel founded their first bank, "Thompson's Bank Note and Commercial Reporter". In 1863, the trio opened their third bank, called the "1st National Bank of the City of New York". The bank survives to this day as Citibank
Citibank
Citibank, a major international bank, is the consumer banking arm of financial services giant Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, later First National City Bank of New York...
.
In 1873 John and Samuel Thompson left the 1st National Bank to form the Chase National Bank, named after their friend and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase
Salmon P. Chase
Salmon Portland Chase was an American politician and jurist who served as U.S. Senator from Ohio and the 23rd Governor of Ohio; as U.S. Treasury Secretary under President Abraham Lincoln; and as the sixth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.Chase was one of the most prominent members...
. The bank survives to this day as JP Morgan Chase.
An amateur photographer, strong supporter of education, and noted philanthropist, Thompson and his wife donated large sums of money to numerous organizations, including Williams Alumni Association, the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, the American Geographical Society
American 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...
, and the Union League
Union League
A Union League is one of a number of organizations established starting in 1862, during the American Civil War to promote loyalty to the Union and the policies of Abraham Lincoln. They were also known as Loyal Leagues. They comprised upper middle class men who supported efforts such as the United...
. Thompson also served on the board of trustees of Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, and Teachers College (now Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
).
Thompson died on April 10, 1899 in New York City. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
.
See also
- Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic ParkSonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic ParkSonnenberg Gardens, also known as Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park, is a state park located at 151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua, New York, USA, at the north end of Canandaigua Lake, in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York...
- List of Williams College people