Frederic Bronson

Bronson was born on July 20, 1851, in New York City. He was the son of Frederic Bronson (1802–1868), and Charlotte (née Brinckerhoff) Bronson (1818–1861).{{cite book|last1=Sibley|first1=Harriet (Bronson)|title=Bronson Lineage 1636-1917 {{!}} Ancestors and Descendants of Captain William Bronson of the Revolutionary War, and Other Ancestral Lines|date=1917|location=Dallas, Oregon|url=https://archive.org/stream/bronsonlineage1600sibl/bronsonlineage1600sibl_djvu.txt|access-date=16 October 2017}} He was the brother of Charlotte Troup Bronson, who married Egerton Leigh Winthrop,{{cite web|title=Charlotte Winthrop (1863-1893)|url=https://www.nyhistory.org/exhibit/charlotte-winthrop-1863-1893|website=www.nyhistory.org|publisher=New-York Historical Society|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}} Louisa Bronson, who married H. H. Hunnewell Jr. the son of Paris and Boston merchant banker Horatio Hollis Hunnewell, and Maria Bronson.

He was the paternal grandson of Isaac Bronson, and a member of the extended Bronson family, which was prominent in business and society, including his uncle, Dr. Oliver Bronson.{{cite book|last1=Haeger|first1=John D.|title=The Investment Frontier: New York Businessmen and the Economic Development of the Old Northwest|date=1981|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=9780873955300|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9DAj3x4TwL0C&pg=PA279|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}}{{cite web|title=Bronson family papers 1790-1875|url=https://archives.nypl.org/mss/400|website=archives.nypl.org|publisher=New York Public Library|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}} His maternal grandparents were James Lefferts Brinckerhoff and Charlotte (née Troup) Brinckerhoff,{{cite web|title=Robert Troup Papers|url=http://archives.nypl.org/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/troup.pdf|website=archives.nypl.org|publisher=New York Public Library|access-date=16 October 2017}} daughter of Lt. Col. Robert Troup and Jannetje (née Goelet) Troup.{{cite book|last1=Allen|first1=Cameron|title=The History of the American Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Paris (1815-1980)|date=2013|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=9781475937817|page=22|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uQXJAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA22|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}} His aunt Maria Lousia Brinckerhoff (1816–1866), was married to Robert Livingston Pell (1811–1880), a grandson of James Duane.{{Cite journal |title=Robert Troup Papers 1771-1870 |publisher= New York Public Library Research Collections |url=http://catnyp.nypl.org/search?/aTroup%2C+Robert+R./atroup+robert+r/-3,-1,0,B/l856~b3437148&FF=atroup+robert+r&1,1,,1,0 |access-date=2008-02-02 }}

Morris graduated from Columbia College in 1870, and later, Columbia Law School, in 1873.{{cite book|last1=University|first1=Columbia|title=Annual Report of President Low to the Trustees 1889/90-1900/01|date=1900|publisher=the University|page=1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2SMUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}}

He was a director of the Savings Bank for Merchants' Clerks and the treasurer of the New York Life and Trust Company, which was founded by his grandfather, Isaac Bronson. He also served as a trustee of Columbia University from 1896 until his death in 1900. From his election in 1893 until his death, he was a manager of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the City of New York.{{cite book|last1=Assembly|first1=New York (State) Legislature|title=Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York|date=1908|pages=45–46|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ms8aAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA46|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}}

In 1892, Bronson and his wife were both included in Ward McAllister's "Four Hundred", purported to be an index of New York's best families, published in The New York Times.{{cite news|last1=McAllister|first1=Ward|title=THE ONLY FOUR HUNDRED {{!}} WARD M'ALLISTER GIVES OUT THE OFFICIAL LIST. HERE ARE THE NAMES, DON'T YOU KNOW, ON THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR GREAT LEADER, YOU UNDER- STAND, AND THEREFORE GENUINE, YOU SEE.|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1892/02/16/108210917.pdf|access-date=5 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=16 February 1892|language=en}}

He served as the president of the New York Coaching Club, trustee of the City Club,{{cite news|title=MR. KELLY'S RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.; The City Club Also Appointed Frederic Bronson to be Its Treasurer.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A04E0DB1638E233A2575AC0A9679C94659ED7CF&legacy=true|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=January 9, 1894}} vice-president of the Union Club in 1898. He was also a member of the Knickerbocker Club, Racquet and Tennis Club, Country Club, Metropolitan Club, Down Town Club, Riding Club, Church Club, and New York Yacht Club.

In 1875, he was married to Sarah Gracie King (1850–1931).{{cite news|title=MRS. ADRIAN ISELIN DIES IN HER SLEEP; Wife of Banking House's Head Is Stricken in Her 81st Year. A SOCIETY CONSERVATIVE Was a Descendant of the King, Duer and Gracie Families, Long Prominent in This City.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A05E3DC143BE433A25756C0A9629C946094D6CF&legacy=true|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=5 April 1931}} She was the daughter of Archibald Gracie King and Elizabeth Denning (née Duer) King, and the granddaughter of U.S. Representative James Gore King and William Alexander Duer. She was also the sister of May Denning King, who married John King Van Rensselaer, son of Henry Bell Van Rensselaer and grandson of Stephen Van Rensselaer III, the patroon of Rensselaerwyck.{{cite web|last1=Sullivan|first1=Robert G.|title=Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs: Van Rensselaer Vol. IV|url=http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/families/hmgfm/vanrensselaer-3.html|website=www.schenectadyhistory.org|publisher=Schenectady County Public Library|access-date=6 December 2016|pages=1814–1821|date=1911}} Her brother, Frederick Gore King (b. 1852), was the father of Alice Gore King. The Bronsons lived at 174 Madison Avenue{{cite book|title=Social Register, New York|date=1904|publisher=Social Register Association|page=55|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pJFIAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA3-PA55|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}} and had a country home, "Verna" in Southport, Connecticut{{cite web|title=Bronson Windmill|url=https://www.ghvis.com/bronson-windmill/|website=ghvis.com|publisher=Greenfield Hill Improvement Society|access-date=16 October 2017}} (which later became the Fairfield Country Day School).{{cite web|title=History|url=https://www.fairfieldcountryday.org/page/about-fcds/history|website=www.fairfieldcountryday.org|publisher=Fairfield Country Day School|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}} Together, they were the parents of:

• Elizabeth Duer Bronson (1877–1914),{{cite news|title=MRS. L. C. GRISCOM DEAD.; Wife of ex-Ambassador to Rome Succumbs in Hotel St. Regis.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F06E7DA1738E633A25754C1A9679D946596D6CF&legacy=true|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=17 November 1914}} who married Lloyd Carpenter Griscom (1872–1959), the United States Ambassador to Italy who was a son of Clement Griscom, the shipping magnate, in 1901.{{cite news|title=GRISCOM-BRONSON NUPTIALS.; United States Minister to Persia Takes a Wife in London.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F04EFD7143FE433A25750C0A9679D946097D6CF&legacy=true|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=3 November 1901}} After her death in 1914, he remarried to Audrey M.E. Crosse in 1929.{{cite news|title=LLOYD C. GRISCOM TO WED IN ENGLAND; New York Lawyer Will Marry Miss Audrey M.E. Crosse of Southsea on Oct. 3. A LEICESTERSHIRE BRIDAL Ceremony to Take Place at Marston Trussell Hall, Home of the Bride-Elect's Uncle.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B00E1DA1530E73ABC4052DFBF668382639EDE&legacy=true|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=18 September 1929}}

Bronson died of pneumonia in Palermo, Italy on March 29, 1900,{{cite book|last1=Browning|first1=Charles H.|title=Americans of Royal Descent: Collection of Genealogies Showing the Lineal Descent from Kings of Some American Families ...|date=1911|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|isbn=9780806300542|page=353|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eyik0rO0HlsC&pg=PA546-IA13|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}} after completing a Mediterranean voyage on Augusta Victoria, a luxury ship owned by North German Lloyd.{{cite news|title=Obituary|url=http://spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/columbia?a=d&d=cs19000330-01.2.15|access-date=16 October 2017|work=Columbia Daily Spectator|date=30 March 1900}} His funeral was held at Grace Church in Manhattan,{{cite news|title=Funeral of Frederic Bronson|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A0CEEDA1E3CE433A25753C2A9629C946197D6CF&legacy=true|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=20 April 1900}} officiated by Bishop Henry C. Potter and he was buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Connecticut.{{cite news|title=FREDERIC BRONSON'S FUNERAL.; The Services at Grace Church -- Burial in Connecticut.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=980CE7D81E3CE433A25751C2A9629C946197D6CF&legacy=true|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=22 April 1900}} The honorary pallbearers at his funeral were Frank Knight Sturgis, Adrian Iselin, Jr., Dr. Francis Delafield, W. Bayard Cutting, George L. Rives, Johnston Livingston, A. J. Cassatt, Charles Gould, John Nish, and F. Delano Weeks.

His widow, then 63, remarried in 1914 to his friend, Adrian Iselin, the banker who was then 67.{{cite news|title=ADRIAN ISELIN AND MRS. BRONSON WED; Banker and Widow of Frederic Bronson Married in Rectory of St. Patrick's Cathedral.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E01E2D91730E733A25753C2A9649C946596D6CF&legacy=true|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=20 February 1914}} She died in 1931.{{cite news|title=MRS. ISELIN'S FUNERAL.; 200 Persons of Prominence at the Services in Grace Church.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9900E7DE1F38E03ABC4F53DFB266838A629EDE&legacy=true|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The New York Times|date=7 April 1931}}

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Category:1851 births

Category:1900 deaths

Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni

Category:Columbia Law School alumni

Category:Lawyers from New York City

Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Sicily

Category:19th-century American lawyers