John Cleve Green
Encyclopedia
John Cleve Green was a China merchant and former partner of John Murray Forbes
in the China trading house of Russell & Company
. Green was a benefactor of Princeton University
and the Lawrenceville School
. One of his homes was a 10 acre estate in New Brighton, Staten Island
, where Curtis High School
now stands. In the late 19th century he gave 1.5 million dollars to Princeton. He also left major donations to NYU and New York area hospitals.
Green was born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey
. His father, Caleb Smith Green, was a farmer in Lawrence township in the present county of Mercer
, New Jersey. While young, John entered the house of N. L. & G. Griswold, merchants in the China trade on South Street in New York City
, and as a clerk displayed so much sagacity that he was appointed supercargo
of the ship Panama, a famous tea clipper of that day, and of other vessels, and made many voyages to China and South America. In 1833, he was admitted to the house of Russell & Co., in Canton, China, and there laid the foundation of his large fortune. In 1839, on his return to New York, he married Sarah Helen, daughter of George Griswold, and carried on the China trade for many years thereafter, acquiring a fortune of about $7,000,000. Green was promnent in the social, business and public enterprises of the city. He had been for many years a director of The Bank of Commerce, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a manager of several of the leading charitable and public institutions, being always known as a man of clear views, strong convictions and great force of character. He took an active interest in the NYU and in Princeton Theological Seminary
and Princeton College. His town house was in Washington Square in New York City and his large country house with much land at New Brighton
on Staten Island
. Green was the father of three children all of whom died in childhood. His brother, Henry W. Green, was at one time Chancellor of New Jersey, and his brother in law, Frederick Frelinghuysen, Senator from the same State.
Green died in 1875, at his residence on Washington Square.
John Murray Forbes
John Murray Forbes was an American railroad magnate, merchant, philanthropist and abolitionist. He was president of both the Michigan Central railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in the 1850s....
in the China trading house of Russell & Company
Russell & Company
Russell & Company was the largest and most important American trading house in China from 1842 to its closing in 1891.Samuel Russell founded Russell & Company in Canton, China, in 1824. Dealing mostly in silks, teas and opium, Russell & Company prospered, and by 1842, it had become the largest...
. Green was a benefactor of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and the Lawrenceville School
Lawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is a coeducational, independent preparatory boarding school for grades 9–12 located on in the historic community of Lawrenceville, in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, U.S., five miles southwest of Princeton....
. One of his homes was a 10 acre estate in New Brighton, Staten Island
New Brighton, Staten Island
New Brighton, formerly an independent village, is today a neighborhood located on the North Shore of Staten Island in New York City, USA. The neighborhood comprises an older industrial and residential harbor front area along the Kill Van Kull west of St. George.The village of New Brighton was...
, where Curtis High School
Curtis High School
Curtis High School operated by the New York City Department of Education is one of seven public high schools located in Staten Island, New York City, New York. It was founded on February 9, 1904 and was the first high school on Staten Island.-History:...
now stands. In the late 19th century he gave 1.5 million dollars to Princeton. He also left major donations to NYU and New York area hospitals.
Green was born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Lawrenceville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lawrence Township in Mercer County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP population was 3,887...
. His father, Caleb Smith Green, was a farmer in Lawrence township in the present county of Mercer
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
, New Jersey. While young, John entered the house of N. L. & G. Griswold, merchants in the China trade on South Street in 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...
, and as a clerk displayed so much sagacity that he was appointed supercargo
Supercargo
Supercargo is a term in maritime law that refers to a person employed on board a vessel by the owner of cargo carried on the ship...
of the ship Panama, a famous tea clipper of that day, and of other vessels, and made many voyages to China and South America. In 1833, he was admitted to the house of Russell & Co., in Canton, China, and there laid the foundation of his large fortune. In 1839, on his return to New York, he married Sarah Helen, daughter of George Griswold, and carried on the China trade for many years thereafter, acquiring a fortune of about $7,000,000. Green was promnent in the social, business and public enterprises of the city. He had been for many years a director of The Bank of Commerce, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a manager of several of the leading charitable and public institutions, being always known as a man of clear views, strong convictions and great force of character. He took an active interest in the NYU and in Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
and Princeton College. His town house was in Washington Square in New York City and his large country house with much land at New Brighton
New Brighton, Staten Island
New Brighton, formerly an independent village, is today a neighborhood located on the North Shore of Staten Island in New York City, USA. The neighborhood comprises an older industrial and residential harbor front area along the Kill Van Kull west of St. George.The village of New Brighton was...
on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. Green was the father of three children all of whom died in childhood. His brother, Henry W. Green, was at one time Chancellor of New Jersey, and his brother in law, Frederick Frelinghuysen, Senator from the same State.
Green died in 1875, at his residence on Washington Square.