William L. Harkness
Encyclopedia
William Lamon Harkness was an American businessman. He was born in Bellevue, Ohio
, the second son of Stephen V. Harkness
and his first wife, Laura Osborne. On his father's death in 1888, he inherited a large share in Standard Oil
, a company in which his father had been one of the earliest and largest shareholders.
In 1896 he moved from Cleveland, Ohio to a home at 12 East Fifty-third Street in New York City
. He also owned a country home at Glen Cove
on Long Island
. A yachtsman, he was a member of the New York Yacht Club
.
William Harkness died in New York City
in 1919 and was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx
, New York
. He left an estate of $53,439,437 of which $37,272,254 was stock in Standard Oil
. Shortly before his death he donated $400,000 to Yale University
, where he was, with his brothers Charles
and Edward
, were also alumni. He had graduated in 1881. He also gave encouragement to Henry Durand
, a fellow classmate, friend and member of The Third Society
, when Bright College Years
was arranged by Durand.
His widowed stepmother donated substantial money to the University including funds for the construction of the William L. Harkness Hall in his memory.
Bellevue, Ohio
Bellevue is a city in Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 8,193 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Bellevue as a Tree City USA....
, the second son of Stephen V. Harkness
Stephen V. Harkness
Stephen Vanderburgh Harkness was an American businessman from Cleveland, Ohio, who invested as a silent partner with oil titan John D. Rockefeller, Sr. in the founding of Standard Oil.-Biography:...
and his first wife, Laura Osborne. On his father's death in 1888, he inherited a large share in Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
, a company in which his father had been one of the earliest and largest shareholders.
In 1896 he moved from Cleveland, Ohio to a home at 12 East Fifty-third 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...
. He also owned a country home at Glen Cove
Glen Cove, New York
Glen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 26,964....
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. A yachtsman, he was a member of the New York Yacht Club
New York Yacht Club
The New York Yacht Club is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. The organization has over 3,000 members as of 2011. ...
.
William Harkness died 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...
in 1919 and was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He left an estate of $53,439,437 of which $37,272,254 was stock in Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
. Shortly before his death he donated $400,000 to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he was, with his brothers Charles
Charles W. Harkness
Charles William Harkness was the son of Stephen V. Harkness, an original investor in the company that became Standard Oil, and his second wife, the former Anna M. Richardson....
and Edward
Edward Harkness
Edward Stephen Harkness was an American philanthropist. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, one of four sons to Stephen V. Harkness, a harness-maker who invested in the forerunner of Standard Oil, John D. Rockefeller's oil company. Harkness inherited a fortune from his father...
, were also alumni. He had graduated in 1881. He also gave encouragement to Henry Durand
Henry Durand
Henry Durand is credited having songwritten Bright College Years, the Yale University alma mater with Carl Wilhelm. Durand was born in Cincinnati, OH and prepared for Yale at the Hopkins School...
, a fellow classmate, friend and member of The Third Society
Wolf's Head (secret society)
Wolf's Head Society is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Membership is recomposed annually of fifteen or sixteen Yale University students, typically juniors from the college...
, when Bright College Years
Bright College Years
Bright College Years is one of the traditional songs of Yale University, and often cited as the university's alma mater...
was arranged by Durand.
His widowed stepmother donated substantial money to the University including funds for the construction of the William L. Harkness Hall in his memory.