John Lowell Gardner II
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" Lowell Gardner II (November 26, 1837 – December 10, 1898) was an American businessman, art collector, and philanthropist
. He and his wife, Isabella Stewart Gardner, were patrons of the arts whose collection is now housed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
, in Boston
.
(1757–1844), who made a fortune importing pepper from Sumatra
and was one of the wealthiest men in the United States at the time of his death in 1844. Jack's paternal grandfather, Samuel Pickering Gardner (1768–1843), descended from Thomas Gardner (planter)
and from the father of Timothy Pickering
. Through his paternal grandmother, Rebecca Russell Lowell, he descended from Percival Lowell
who had arrived at Cape Ann
in 1639.
After spending time at Harvard, Jack entered his father's East Indies
trading business.
The John L. Gardners' (I and II) ships sailed many seas. The Gardners partnered with Joseph Peabody. Some of the ships included (ships
are not linked): Arabia, Bunker Hill, California, Democrat
, Duxbury, Eclipse, Gentleman, Grotius, Lenore, Lepanto, Lotos, Marquis de Somerulas, Mars, Monterey, Nabob
, Napke, Naples, Pallas
, Pioneer
, Plant
, Plato, Ruble
, Sappho
, Shawmut
, St Paul, Sumatra, Thetis
, Unicorn.
Jack had financial interests besides shipping, such as railroads (Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
) and mining (Calumet and Hecla Mining Company
). He supported the America's Cup defender, Puritan
.
on April 10, 1860. Jack and Isabella had one son, John Lowell 3rd, who was born June 18, 1863. He died March 15, 1865. After his death, the couple started to travel and collect.
In 1875, Jack's brother, Joseph P, died. He had been a widower since 1865. Joseph P left three young sons, including Augustus P. Gardner
who was 10 years old at the time..
Jack and Isabella 'adopted' and raised the boys. Augustus accompanied them on some of their 'hunts' for collectibles..
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He and his wife, Isabella Stewart Gardner, were patrons of the arts whose collection is now housed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum or Fenway Court, as the museum was known during Isabella Stewart Gardner's lifetime, is a museum in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, located within walking distance of the Museum of Fine Arts and near the Back Bay Fens...
, in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
Background
Jack Gardner's mother, Catherine Endicott Peabody (1808–1883), of Brookline, MA, was the daughter of the distinguished Salem shipowner, Joseph PeabodyJoseph Peabody
Joseph Peabody was a merchant and shipowner who dominated trade between Massachusetts and the Far East for a number of years.-Family and career:...
(1757–1844), who made a fortune importing pepper from Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
and was one of the wealthiest men in the United States at the time of his death in 1844. Jack's paternal grandfather, Samuel Pickering Gardner (1768–1843), descended from Thomas Gardner (planter)
Thomas Gardner (planter)
Thomas Gardner was an Overseer of the "old planters" party of the Dorchester Company who landed, in 1624 at Cape Ann, to form a colony at what is now known as Gloucester...
and from the father of Timothy Pickering
Timothy Pickering
Timothy Pickering was a politician from Massachusetts who served in a variety of roles, most notably as the third United States Secretary of State, serving in that office from 1795 to 1800 under Presidents George Washington and John Adams.-Early years:Pickering was born in Salem, Massachusetts to...
. Through his paternal grandmother, Rebecca Russell Lowell, he descended from Percival Lowell
Lowell family
The Lowell family settled on the North Shore at Cape Ann after they arrived in Boston on June 23, 1639. The patriarch, Percival Lowle , described as a "solid citizen of Bristol", determined at the age of 68 that the future was in the New World.Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop needed...
who had arrived at Cape Ann
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
in 1639.
After spending time at Harvard, Jack entered his father's East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
trading business.
The John L. Gardners' (I and II) ships sailed many seas. The Gardners partnered with Joseph Peabody. Some of the ships included (ships
Clipper
A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
are not linked): Arabia, Bunker Hill, California, Democrat
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
, Duxbury, Eclipse, Gentleman, Grotius, Lenore, Lepanto, Lotos, Marquis de Somerulas, Mars, Monterey, Nabob
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, Napke, Naples, Pallas
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, Pioneer
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
, Plant
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
, Plato, Ruble
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, Sappho
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, Shawmut
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
, St Paul, Sumatra, Thetis
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, Unicorn.
Jack had financial interests besides shipping, such as railroads (Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
) and mining (Calumet and Hecla Mining Company
Calumet and Hecla Mining Company
The Calumet and Hecla Mining Company was a major copper-mining company based in the Michigan Copper Country. In the 19th century, the company paid out more than $72 million in shareholder dividends, more than any other mining company in the United States during that period.-History:In 1864, Edwin J...
). He supported the America's Cup defender, Puritan
Puritan (yacht)
Puritan was the 1885 America's Cup defender.-Design:She was built at the George Lawley & Son yard in Boston, Massachusetts and launched May 26, 1885....
.
Marriage
He married Isabella StewartIsabella Stewart Gardner
Isabella Stewart Gardner – founder of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston – was an American art collector, philanthropist, and one of the foremost female patrons of the arts....
on April 10, 1860. Jack and Isabella had one son, John Lowell 3rd, who was born June 18, 1863. He died March 15, 1865. After his death, the couple started to travel and collect.
In 1875, Jack's brother, Joseph P, died. He had been a widower since 1865. Joseph P left three young sons, including Augustus P. Gardner
Augustus P. Gardner
Augustus Peabody Gardner was a Representative from Massachusetts. Gardner was the son-in-law of Henry Cabot Lodge.-Life and career:...
who was 10 years old at the time..
Jack and Isabella 'adopted' and raised the boys. Augustus accompanied them on some of their 'hunts' for collectibles..