James Scollay Whitney
Encyclopedia
James Scollay Whitney was an American business executive and politician. He was the father of Henry Melville Whitney
and William Collins Whitney, founders of the Whitney family
business interests.
Whitney was born in 1811 in South Deerfield, Massachusetts
, the son of Stephen Whitney, a merchant manufacturer. The family were descended from John Whitney (1590–1673) of London, who settled in 1635 at Watertown, Massachusetts
.
In 1835, when he was only 24, Whitney was elected and commissioned brigadier general of the 2nd Brigade of the Massachusetts State Militia
, which he was largely influential in reorganizing. Upon succeeding to the management of his father's manufacturing business in 1838, he moved it to Conway, Massachusetts
, where he became a large manufacturer.
Whitney married Laurinda Collins, a descendant of William Bradford. The Whitneys were the parents of two sons and four daughters, of whom the following received historical mention:
A Jacksonian Democrat, Whitney was town clerk of Conway from 1843 to 1852. He represented Conway in the legislature of 1851, and in the same year he was appointed sheriff of Franklin County. In 1853 he was elected to the convention for the revision of the state constitution, in which he was prominent in the deliberations of the delegates. Whitney again represented Conway in the legislature of 1854.
In 1854 Whitney was appointed superintendent of the federal armory at Springfield, Massachusetts
, by President Franklin Pierce
, holding the position until 1860. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1856, which nominated James Buchanan
, and also that of 1860, which was wracked by sectional dissension before finally nominating Stephen A. Douglas
. When Whitney left the Springfield Armory
in 1860, President Buchanan appointed him collect of customs for the Port of Boston. He was removed, however, by the incoming Republican administration of Abraham Lincoln
in 1861.
Whitney then went into business in Boston. In February 1866 he joined Boston interests in organizing the Metropolitan Steamship Company
, of which he was elected president. His son Henry was named its agent at Boston. The company operated steamships between Boston and New York City
on the "outside line" around Cape Cod
. The line named the iron steamer General Whitney in his honor in 1873.
A member of the state senate from the 1st Norfolk District in 1872, Whitney was president of the Democratic State Convention of 1876, which nominated Charles Francis Adams
for governor, and also that of 1878, which nominated Josiah G. Abbott for governor.
James S. Whitney died in Boston on October 24, 1878. He was succeeded as president of the Metropolitan Steamship Company by his son, Henry M. Whitney.
Henry Melville Whitney
Henry Melville Whitney was an American industrialist, the founder of the West End Street Railway Company of Boston, Massachusetts, and later the Dominion Coal Company Ltd. and the Dominion Iron and Steel Company Ltd. of Sydney, Nova Scotia...
and William Collins Whitney, founders of the Whitney family
Whitney family
The Whitney family is an American family notable for their social prominence, wealth, business enterprises and philanthropy, founded by John Whitney who came from London, England to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635.-Rise to prominence:...
business interests.
Whitney was born in 1811 in South Deerfield, Massachusetts
South Deerfield, Massachusetts
South Deerfield is a census-designated place in Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to the well-known Yankee Candle Company.South Deerfield is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, the son of Stephen Whitney, a merchant manufacturer. The family were descended from John Whitney (1590–1673) of London, who settled in 1635 at Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
.
In 1835, when he was only 24, Whitney was elected and commissioned brigadier general of the 2nd Brigade of the Massachusetts State Militia
Massachusetts National Guard
The Massachusetts National Guard was founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, and contains the oldest units in the United States Army. It is currently headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts and commanded by Major General Joseph C...
, which he was largely influential in reorganizing. Upon succeeding to the management of his father's manufacturing business in 1838, he moved it to Conway, Massachusetts
Conway, Massachusetts
Conway is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,809 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, where he became a large manufacturer.
Whitney married Laurinda Collins, a descendant of William Bradford. The Whitneys were the parents of two sons and four daughters, of whom the following received historical mention:
- Henry Melville WhitneyHenry Melville WhitneyHenry Melville Whitney was an American industrialist, the founder of the West End Street Railway Company of Boston, Massachusetts, and later the Dominion Coal Company Ltd. and the Dominion Iron and Steel Company Ltd. of Sydney, Nova Scotia...
(1839–1923) - William Collins Whitney (1841–1904)
- Susan Collins Whitney - married Henry F. DimockHenry F. DimockHenry F. Dimock was a lawyer in New York City who was closely associated with the Whitney family business interests.Dimock was born in South Coventry, Connecticut, the son of Timothy and Laura F. Dimock...
- Lucy Collins "Lily" Whitney - married Charles T. BarneyCharles T. BarneyCharles Tracy Barney was the president of the Knickerbocker Trust Company, the collapse of which shortly before Barney's death sparked the Panic of 1907.-Early life and marriage:...
A Jacksonian Democrat, Whitney was town clerk of Conway from 1843 to 1852. He represented Conway in the legislature of 1851, and in the same year he was appointed sheriff of Franklin County. In 1853 he was elected to the convention for the revision of the state constitution, in which he was prominent in the deliberations of the delegates. Whitney again represented Conway in the legislature of 1854.
In 1854 Whitney was appointed superintendent of the federal armory at Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, by President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
, holding the position until 1860. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1856, which nominated James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
, and also that of 1860, which was wracked by sectional dissension before finally nominating Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen Arnold Douglas was an American politician from the western state of Illinois, and was the Northern Democratic Party nominee for President in 1860. He lost to the Republican Party's candidate, Abraham Lincoln, whom he had defeated two years earlier in a Senate contest following a famed...
. When Whitney left the Springfield Armory
Springfield Armory
The Springfield Armory, located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts - from 1777 until its closing in 1968 - was the primary center for the manufacture of U.S. military firearms. After its controversial closing during the Vietnam War, the Springfield Armory was declared Western Massachusetts'...
in 1860, President Buchanan appointed him collect of customs for the Port of Boston. He was removed, however, by the incoming Republican administration of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
in 1861.
Whitney then went into business in Boston. In February 1866 he joined Boston interests in organizing the Metropolitan Steamship Company
Metropolitan Steamship Company
The Metropolitan Steamship Company was for 75 years one of the chief transportation links between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts. It was closely associated with the Whitney family until its acquisition by Charles W. Morse in 1906...
, of which he was elected president. His son Henry was named its agent at Boston. The company operated steamships between Boston and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on the "outside line" around Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
. The line named the iron steamer General Whitney in his honor in 1873.
A member of the state senate from the 1st Norfolk District in 1872, Whitney was president of the Democratic State Convention of 1876, which nominated Charles Francis Adams
Charles Francis Adams
Charles Francis Adams may refer to:* Charles Adams , grocery magnate and founder of the Boston Bruins* Charles Francis Adams, Sr. , grandson of John Adams, son of John Quincy Adams, U.S. congressman, ambassador...
for governor, and also that of 1878, which nominated Josiah G. Abbott for governor.
James S. Whitney died in Boston on October 24, 1878. He was succeeded as president of the Metropolitan Steamship Company by his son, Henry M. Whitney.