Robert Anderson Van Wyck
Encyclopedia
Robert Anderson Van Wyck, (July 20, 1849 November 14, 1918) was the first mayor of New York City
after the consolidation of the five boroughs
into the City of New York in 1898.
, he was prepared for college at the Wilson Academy in North Carolina
, and later graduated from Columbia
, where he was valedictorian
of his class. He then passed a number of years in mercantile life, after which he became an able lawyer and enjoyed a large practice for many years. Later, he was elected Judge of the City Court of New York, becoming thereafter Chief Justice. He resigned to accept the Democratic Party
nomination for Mayor of Greater New York, and was elected by a very large majority. He served as mayor of New York City
between 1898 and 1901 and was the first mayor to govern New York City
after its five boroughs
had been consolidated into a single city.
He was a member of the Holland Society, of which he became President. He belonged to many of the social clubs of the city, and was prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of The Ancient Lodge, New York City. For many years he took a most active interest in party matters, attending many conventions, State and national. He subsequently became intensely fond of traveling, and indulged in that pleasure to a very large extent.
As Mayor, he brought together the innumerable municipal corporations comprising the greater city, adjusting their finances and bringing order out of almost total chaos. He also caused to be constructed the first subway railroad in Manhattan
, and provided for the construction of the proposed Brooklyn Tunnel.
Van Wyck is generally regarded as a colorless mayor, selected by the sachem
s (leaders) of Tammany Hall
as a man who would do little to interfere with their running of the city. He was, however, no more averse than many of his colleagues to enriching himself once actually in office. Initially highly popular as a result of his reversal of the various reforms introduced by the preceding Fusion administration, Van Wyck's mayoralty foundered on the issue of the so-called 'Ice Trust' scandal on 1900. One of the most serious reverses ever suffered by a Tammany mayor, the scandal followed on the revelation, made by the New York World, that the American Ice Company of Charles W. Morse
planned to double the price of ice from 30 to 60 cents per hundred pounds. In the era before refrigeration
, this was a potentially deadly decision, since ice was the only preservative available to keep food, milk and medicines fresh, and the new price would have put the product out of the reach of many of the city's poor Tammany's main power base.
Public outcry was such that American Ice was forced to reverse its decision, but not before Van Wyck's political rivals had forced an investigation that eventually revealed not only that American Ice had secured an effective monopoly over the supply of its product to the city it was the only company with rights to land ice at New York piers but also that Van Wyck, whose salary as mayor was only $15,000, owned, and had apparently not paid for, $680,000 worth of American Ice stock.
The ice trust scandal destroyed Van Wyck's political career and was generally have reckoned to have cost Tammany the elections of 1901, which went to the Fusion reformist slate led by Seth Low
. The New York Times, looking back two years later, characterized the Van Wyck administration as one mired in "black ooze and slime". However, in an investigation conducted by Governor Theodore Roosevelt
, it was determined that Van Wyck had not been personally implicated in the Ice Trust Scandal.
In 1906, Van Wyck moved to Paris, France, where he died at the age of 69 on November 14, 1918. The funeral was held at American Holy Trinity Church; he is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
His name lives on 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...
after the consolidation of the five boroughs
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
into the City of New York in 1898.
Biography
The son of William Van Wyck and brother of Augustus Van WyckAugustus Van Wyck
Augustus Van Wyck was a Supreme Court Justice of Brooklyn, New York. In 1898 he received the Democratic Nomination for New York State governor against the Republican choice, Theodore Roosevelt.- Background :...
, he was prepared for college at the Wilson Academy in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and later graduated from Columbia
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
, where he was valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of his class. He then passed a number of years in mercantile life, after which he became an able lawyer and enjoyed a large practice for many years. Later, he was elected Judge of the City Court of New York, becoming thereafter Chief Justice. He resigned to accept the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination for Mayor of Greater New York, and was elected by a very large majority. He served as mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
between 1898 and 1901 and was the first mayor to govern 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...
after its five boroughs
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
had been consolidated into a single city.
He was a member of the Holland Society, of which he became President. He belonged to many of the social clubs of the city, and was prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of The Ancient Lodge, New York City. For many years he took a most active interest in party matters, attending many conventions, State and national. He subsequently became intensely fond of traveling, and indulged in that pleasure to a very large extent.
As Mayor, he brought together the innumerable municipal corporations comprising the greater city, adjusting their finances and bringing order out of almost total chaos. He also caused to be constructed the first subway railroad in Manhattan
History of the IRT subway before 1918
The first regularly operated subway in New York City was built by the city and leased to the Interborough Rapid Transit Company for operation under Contracts 1 and 2. Until 1918, when the new "H" system that is still operated - with separate East Side and West Side lines - was placed in service, it...
, and provided for the construction of the proposed Brooklyn Tunnel.
Van Wyck is generally regarded as a colorless mayor, selected by the sachem
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
s (leaders) of Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
as a man who would do little to interfere with their running of the city. He was, however, no more averse than many of his colleagues to enriching himself once actually in office. Initially highly popular as a result of his reversal of the various reforms introduced by the preceding Fusion administration, Van Wyck's mayoralty foundered on the issue of the so-called 'Ice Trust' scandal on 1900. One of the most serious reverses ever suffered by a Tammany mayor, the scandal followed on the revelation, made by the New York World, that the American Ice Company of Charles W. Morse
Charles W. Morse
Charles Wyman Morse was a notorious businessman and speculator on Wall Street in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
planned to double the price of ice from 30 to 60 cents per hundred pounds. In the era before refrigeration
Refrigeration
Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from one location to another. This work is traditionally done by mechanical work, but can also be done by magnetism, laser or other means...
, this was a potentially deadly decision, since ice was the only preservative available to keep food, milk and medicines fresh, and the new price would have put the product out of the reach of many of the city's poor Tammany's main power base.
Public outcry was such that American Ice was forced to reverse its decision, but not before Van Wyck's political rivals had forced an investigation that eventually revealed not only that American Ice had secured an effective monopoly over the supply of its product to the city it was the only company with rights to land ice at New York piers but also that Van Wyck, whose salary as mayor was only $15,000, owned, and had apparently not paid for, $680,000 worth of American Ice stock.
The ice trust scandal destroyed Van Wyck's political career and was generally have reckoned to have cost Tammany the elections of 1901, which went to the Fusion reformist slate led by Seth Low
Seth Low
Seth Low , born in Brooklyn, New York, was an American educator and political figure who served as mayor of Brooklyn, as President of Columbia University, as diplomatic representative of the United States, and as Mayor of New York City...
. The New York Times, looking back two years later, characterized the Van Wyck administration as one mired in "black ooze and slime". However, in an investigation conducted by Governor Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, it was determined that Van Wyck had not been personally implicated in the Ice Trust Scandal.
In 1906, Van Wyck moved to Paris, France, where he died at the age of 69 on November 14, 1918. The funeral was held at American Holy Trinity Church; he is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
His name lives on in New York City:
- Middle School 217 Q. at 85-05 144 Street in Jamaica, Queens is the Robert A. Van Wyck Middle School.
- Briarwood – Van Wyck Boulevard subway station served by the trains
- Jamaica – Van Wyck subway station served by the train
- The Van Wyck Expressway runs in a north-south direction through QueensQueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
from John F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
in the south to the Whitestone Expressway in the north.
Further reading
- "Descendants of Cornelius Barentse Van Wyck and Anna Polhemus," by Anne Van Wyck. New York, Tobias A. Wright Printer and Publisher, 1912: 207-208.
- Oliver Allen (1993). The Tiger: The Rise and Fall of Tammany Hall. New York: Addison Wesley.
- New York Times 4 November 1903.
- New York Times 16 November 1918.
- New York Times 4 January 1919.