William Alvord
Encyclopedia
William Alvord was a San Francisco merchant, banker and political leader. He was the 14th Mayor of San Francisco
from 1871 to 1873 and served as president of the Bank of California
from 1878 until his death.
in 1850 and engaged in the hardware trade. In 1853 he went to California
and established his business at Marysville, later moving to San Francisco.
In San Francisco he established a wholesale hardware importing business, later forming a partnership with Richard Patrick. Alvord built up an extensive trade, but close application to business wore down his health. He finally sold his share to Patrick and went to Europe
to recover his health.
Upon his return in 1871 he was nominated for Mayor of San Francisco
on the Republican ticket. Alvord was elected by a handsome margin, serving from December 4, 1871 to November 30, 1873. A portrait of Alvord by Benoni Irwin
, circa 1872, is in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
.
Alvord later went east to purchase machinery for the Pacific Rolling Mills, of which he was one of the projectors and later president. He also was associated with the Risdon Iron and Locomotive Works. When the Bank of California
crashed in 1875 he helped to reestablish it upon a sound financial busis.
Upon the retirement of Darius Ogden Mills
as president of the Bank of California in 1878, Alvord was elected his successor. Under his leadership the bank became one of the chief centers of exchange between European money markets and those of Japan
and China
.
It was Alvord who, in 1887, warned James C. Flood of signs of irregularities at the Navada Bank of San Francisco, enabling Flood to avert the collapse of the Navada Bank from the wheat speculation of its cashier.
In civic affairs, besides serving as Mayor of San Francisco Alvord was at different times park commissioner and police commissioner. He also helped organize memorial services for Ulysses S. Grant
in 1885 and William McKinley
in 1901.
He was president of the American Forestry Association
in 1890-91, president of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
in 1898, and also served as president of the California Academy of Schools.
Alvord remained president of the Bank of California until his death in San Francisco on December 21, 1904, of heart failure due to bronchial troubles. Homer S. King left Wells Fargo & Company in January 1905 to succeed him as president of the bank.
His papers from circa 1874 to 1904 are preserved in the Bancroft Library
at the University of California at Berkeley.
Mayor of San Francisco
The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of San Francisco's city and county government. The mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch....
from 1871 to 1873 and served as president of the Bank of California
Bank of California
The Bank of California was opened in San Francisco, California, on July 4, 1864, by William Chapman Ralston. It was the first commercial bank in the Western United States, the second-richest bank in the nation, and considered instrumental in developing the American Old West.-History:The ancestor of...
from 1878 until his death.
Biography
Alvord was born on January 3, 1833 in Albany, NY, the son of William and Mary Elizabeth Alvord. He was educated at Albany Academy. He moved to New York CityNew 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...
in 1850 and engaged in the hardware trade. In 1853 he went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and established his business at Marysville, later moving to San Francisco.
In San Francisco he established a wholesale hardware importing business, later forming a partnership with Richard Patrick. Alvord built up an extensive trade, but close application to business wore down his health. He finally sold his share to Patrick and went to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to recover his health.
Upon his return in 1871 he was nominated for Mayor of San Francisco
Mayor of San Francisco
The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of San Francisco's city and county government. The mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch....
on the Republican ticket. Alvord was elected by a handsome margin, serving from December 4, 1871 to November 30, 1873. A portrait of Alvord by Benoni Irwin
Benoni Irwin
Benoni Irwin was an American portraitist.A pupil of the National Academy of Design in New York City, USA, he trained in Paris with the famous French portraitist Emile Auguste Carolus-Duran . His work was shown in the Exposition Universelle at Paris in 1889, and the Chicago World's Fair in 1893...
, circa 1872, is in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a museum in Washington, D.C. with an extensive collection of American art.Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum has a broad variety of American art that covers all regions and art movements found in the United States...
.
Alvord later went east to purchase machinery for the Pacific Rolling Mills, of which he was one of the projectors and later president. He also was associated with the Risdon Iron and Locomotive Works. When the Bank of California
Bank of California
The Bank of California was opened in San Francisco, California, on July 4, 1864, by William Chapman Ralston. It was the first commercial bank in the Western United States, the second-richest bank in the nation, and considered instrumental in developing the American Old West.-History:The ancestor of...
crashed in 1875 he helped to reestablish it upon a sound financial busis.
Upon the retirement of Darius Ogden Mills
Darius Ogden Mills
Darius Ogden Mills was a prominent American banker, philanthropist and, for a time, California's wealthiest citizen.-Biography:...
as president of the Bank of California in 1878, Alvord was elected his successor. Under his leadership the bank became one of the chief centers of exchange between European money markets and those of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
It was Alvord who, in 1887, warned James C. Flood of signs of irregularities at the Navada Bank of San Francisco, enabling Flood to avert the collapse of the Navada Bank from the wheat speculation of its cashier.
In civic affairs, besides serving as Mayor of San Francisco Alvord was at different times park commissioner and police commissioner. He also helped organize memorial services for Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
in 1885 and William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
in 1901.
He was president of the American Forestry Association
American Forestry Association
The American Forestry Association was formed in Chicago, Illinois in September 1875 by John Aston Warder. The current headquarters are in Washington, D.C.. The organization acts as a clearinghouse for environmental organizations working to preserve world tree growth. The "National Register of...
in 1890-91, president of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a scientific and educational organization, founded in San Francisco on February 7, 1889. Its name derives from its origins on the Pacific Coast, but today it has members all over the country and the world...
in 1898, and also served as president of the California Academy of Schools.
Alvord remained president of the Bank of California until his death in San Francisco on December 21, 1904, of heart failure due to bronchial troubles. Homer S. King left Wells Fargo & Company in January 1905 to succeed him as president of the bank.
His papers from circa 1874 to 1904 are preserved in the Bancroft Library
Bancroft Library
The Bancroft Library is the primary special collections library of the University of California, Berkeley. It was acquired as a gift/purchase from its founder, Hubert Howe Bancroft, with the proviso that it retain the name Bancroft Library in perpetuity...
at the University of California at Berkeley.