Abram Hewitt

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abram Hewitt
Abram S. Hewitt between 1870 and 1880
Abram S. Hewitt Appreciation in: “Columbia University Quarterly” March 1903

Abram Stevens Hewitt (born July 31, 1822 in Haverstraw , Rockland County , New York , †  January 18, 1903 in New York City ) was an American politician and businessman. Between 1875 and 1886 he represented New York State twice in the US House of Representatives . From 1887 to 1888 he held the office of Mayor of New York .

Career

Abram Hewitt attended public schools in New York City. In 1842 he graduated from Columbia College , later Columbia University . At Columbia College he was the tutor of Edward, the son of Peter Cooper. He then taught mathematics as a teacher. After studying law and being admitted to the bar in 1845, he began to work in this profession.

Cooper Sr. took a great interest in the young Abram Hewitt and practically made him his second son. He worked closely with his father-in-law Peter Cooper (1791–1883) in the iron industry. They founded ironworks in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, among others . When Hewitt married Cooper's only daughter, Sarah Amelia, in 1855, he was 33 years old and a business partner in Cooper's giant steel mills. The couple had six children. Their first daughter, Amelia Bowman, was born on February 28, 1856. Sarah Cooper Hewitt, Peter Cooper Hewitt , Eleanor Garnier (Gurnee), Edward Ringwood, and Erskine followed.

Hewitt was also active in other business areas and was a board member of various companies. He was also involved in building the Cooper Union School . Until his death he was chairman of the board of trustees of this institution. In 1867 he was part of an American delegation that took part in the World's Fair in Paris . He then wrote a report on the knowledge he gained there on iron and steel processing. This report was published in Congress .

Politically, Hewitt joined the Democratic Party . In the early 1870s he fought the corrupt organization Tammany Hall , which until then controlled the city of New York and the Democratic Party there. Hewitt helped rebuild his party after the conviction of William Tweed , former Tammany Hall leader. For a few years it was possible to reduce the influence of this organization. In 1876 and 1877, Hewitt was a retainer of Samuel J. Tilden , who ran for the presidency, chairman of the Democratic National Committee .

In the congressional election of 1874 , Hewitt was elected to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC , in the tenth constituency of New York , where he succeeded Fernando Wood on March 4, 1875 . After re-election, he was able to complete two legislative terms in Congress until March 3, 1879 . In 1878 he decided not to run again. In the elections of 1880 he was re-elected to the US House of Representatives, where he replaced James O'Brien on March 4, 1881 , who had been his successor two years earlier. After two re-elections, he could remain in Congress until his resignation on December 30, 1886. During this time, the Brooklyn Bridge was inaugurated in 1883 . On this occasion, Hewitt gave his most famous speech.

Hewitt's resignation came after he was elected mayor of New York City. One of his opponents at the time was the future President Theodore Roosevelt . He held this office as the successor to William Russell Grace from 1887 to 1888. His tenure was not very successful, which was also due to the resurgence of Tammany Hall. However, the planning and financing of the urban subway was completed in his time. This is why Hewitt is sometimes referred to as the father of the New York subway system. In the following years he expanded his private business activities. In 1900 he became a member of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission ; from 1901 he was a curator at Columbia University. Abram Hewitt died on January 18, 1903 in New York City, where he was also buried.

Speeches and reports

literature

Web links

Wikisource: Abram Hewitt  - Sources and full texts (English)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Sarah Amelia Cooper-Hewitt
  2. ↑ Address delivered by Abram S. Hewitt on the occasion of the opening of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, May 24th, 1883
predecessor Office successor
William Russell Grace Mayor of New York City
1887 - 1888 		Hugh J. Grant
personal data
SURNAME Hewitt, Abram
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hewitt, Abram Stevens (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician and entrepreneur
DATE OF BIRTH July 31, 1822
PLACE OF BIRTH Haverstraw , Rockland County , New York
DATE OF DEATH January 18, 1903
Place of death New York City