John Shaffer Phipps

{{Infobox person

| name =John Shaffer Phipps

| image = File:John Shaffer Phipps circa 1915.jpg

| caption = Phipps circa 1915

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1874|8|11}}

| birth_place = Allegheny, Pennsylvania,
United States

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1958|4|27|1874|8|11}}

| death_place = Palm Beach, Florida,
United States

| death_cause =

| resting_place =

| resting_place_coordinates =

| nationality =

| other_names =

| known_for =

| education = Yale University

| employer =

| occupation = Financier, lawyer, polo player, real estate developer

| title =

| term =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| party =

| boards = Hanover Bank, U.S. Steel Corp., W. R. Grace & Co.

| spouse = {{marriage|Margarita Celia Grace
|1903|1957|reason=her death}}

| children = John H. H. Phipps
Michael Grace Phipps
Hubert Beaumont Phipps
{{nowrap|Margaret Phipps Boegner}}

| parents = Henry Phipps
Anne Childs Shaffer

| relatives =

}}

File:Children of John Shaffer Phipps circa 1915.jpg

John Shaffer Phipps (August 11, 1874 – April 27, 1958) was an American lawyer and businessman who was an heir to the Phipps family fortune and a shareholder of his father-in-law's Grace Shipping Lines. He was a director of the Hanover Bank, U.S. Steel Corp. and W. R. Grace & Co.

Early life

John Shaffer Phipps, who was known as "Jay", was born on August 11, 1874, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, to Henry Phipps (1839–1930){{cite news |title=Henry Phipps Dead. Pioneer In Steel. Former Partner Of Carnegie, Who Amassed $100,000,000, Succumbs At 90. Gave $7,000,000 To Charity. Began Career As Messenger Boy. Divided Much Of Estate Among Three Sons In 1912. Gave More Than $7,000,000 To Charity. An Office Boy With Carnegie. Built Fifth Avenue Mansion. Financed Model Tenements |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0913FB3B5C11738DDDAA0A94D1405B808FF1D3 |work=New York Times |date=September 23, 1930 |accessdate=2010-03-29 }} and Anne Childs Shaffer (1850–1934).{{cite news|title=MRS. HENRY PHIPPS BURIED Service Held at Westbury for Widow of Philanthropist.|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1934/10/27/98538283.html?pageNumber=15|accessdate=4 September 2016|work=The New York Times|date=October 27, 1934}}{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=MRS. HENRY PHIPPS BURIED; Service Held at Westbury for Widow of Philanthropist.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F0DE5D7153CEE3ABC4F51DFB667838F629EDE&legacy=true|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=27 October 1934}}

His father was the son of English born parents who emigrated to Philadelphia in the early part of the 19th century before settling in Pittsburgh in 1845.{{cite news|title=Phipps|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/146221940/|accessdate=4 September 2016|work=The Pittsburgh Press|date=July 24, 1987}}{{cite news|last1=Train|first1=John|title=REJUVENATING OLD MONEY|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1986/06/08/066886.html?pageNumber=629|accessdate=4 September 2016|work=The New York Times|date=June 8, 1986}} His father became an entrepreneur known for his business relationship with Andrew Carnegie and involvement with the Carnegie Steel Company.

His siblings were Amy Phipps (1872–1959), who married Frederick Edward Guest (1875–1937), Helen Margaret Phipps (1876–1934), who married Bradley Martin,{{cite news|title=MARTIN-PHIPPS WEDDING. Daughter of Henry Phipps Married to Bradley Martin, Jr.|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/11/03/120272540.html?pageNumber=9|accessdate=4 September 2016|work=The New York Times|date=November 3, 1904}} Henry Carnegie Phipps (1879–1953), who married Gladys Livingston Mills (1883–1970),{{cite news|title=GLADYS MILLS WEDS HENRY C. PHIPPS Special Train Carries New York Guests to Staatsburg for Brilliant Ceremony GIFTS VALUED AT $2,000,000 Bride's Father-in-Law Presents Her with House in East 85th Street — Viilagers Entertained.|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1907/12/08/104712432.html?pageNumber=11|accessdate=4 September 2016|work=The New York Times|date=December 8, 1907}} and Howard Phipps (1881–1981), who married Harriet Dyer Price.{{cite news|title=MISS PRICE BRIDE OF HOWARD PHIPPS {{!}} Ceremony at Her Parents' Park Avenue Home Performed by Rev. Dr. Karl Reiland. {{!}} NO BRIDAL ATTENDANTS {{!}} Marriage Unites Prominent Families—Mr. Phipps Is Son of Late Noted Philanthropist.|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/10/23/112693422.html?pageNumber=27|accessdate=4 September 2016|work=The New York Times|date=October 23, 1931}}

Estates

John Phipps amassed almost {{convert|2500|acre|km2}} of rolling Virginia farm lands in The Plains, Virginia, including Brenton, an 1889 stone manor house. He was a polo player and Thoroughbred racehorse owner, and the property assembled from 1928 onwards would be the site of his Rockburn Stud farm. Upon his death it passed to his son Hubert.

Phipps purchased an old {{convert|160|acre|km2|adj=on}} Quaker farm on Long Island where he built a large mansion with magnificent gardens that,{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Phipps Give a Tea.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9904EED91F31E233A25754C2A9639C946396D6CF&legacy=true|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=27 May 1912}} following his death, became a non-profit organization that today is known as Old Westbury Gardens and is open to the public.

In the 1920s he purchased several large properties in West Palm Beach, Florida, including one that was once used as a pineapple plantation.{{cite news|last1=Phipps|first1=Henry|title=OPPOSED BY HENRY PHIPPS.; He Telegraphs from Palm Beach His Protest Against the Scheme.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A00E5DD1131E733A25751C2A9659C946897D6CF&legacy=true|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=22 March 1909}} He subdivided the property and turned it into the three largest subdivisions containing luxury residential homes in what is now the El Cid Historic District.{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=PALM BEACH SOCIETY DILLMANS' GUESTS; 200 Entertained With Musicale at Playa Rienta--Fritz Kreisler Is the Artist. PARTY FOR MRS. GOWEN Visitor From Philadelphia Honor Guest of Mrs. Stotesbury at a Bridge-Luncheon. Others in the Company. Mrs. Stotesbury Hostess. Dinner Given by the Carstairs|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C01EFDE133CE33ABC4A52DFB4668383639EDE&legacy=true|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=12 February 1928}} John Phipps built a home for himself he called "Casa Bendita." A large oceanfront mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, it was designed in 1921 by architect Addison Mizner. Today, the property is occupied by his granddaughter, Susan Phipps Cochran, and her husband.{{cite news|title=John Cochran Weds Miss Susan Phipps|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F01E4DC1531EF3ABC4950DFB467838B679EDE&legacy=true|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=31 December 1960}}

Personal life

On November 4, 1903, he married Margarita Celia Grace (1876-1957) at Battle Abbey in Battle, East Sussex, England.{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F01E0DB1039E333A25756C0A9679D946297D6CF | work=The New York Times | title=Phipps--Grace.; Mendels--Wright. Hirsch-Dittenhoefer. Wright--Finck | date=November 5, 1903}} She was the daughter of Michael P. Grace and niece of William Russell Grace, Irish immigrants who became very successful in business, founding the Grace Shipping Line. They spent their honeymoon, traveling via automobile, in India.{{cite news|title=A Honeymoon in The Indian Jungle; Astonishingly Up-to-Date and Adventurous Wedding Trip of John S. Phipps and His Bride, Miss Margarita Grace.|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=950DE7D61E3AE733A25753C2A9659C946597D6CF&legacy=true|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=20 March 1904}} John and Margarita had four children:

John Henry Phipps (1904–1982), who married Elinor Klapp{{cite news|title=John H.H. Phipps, 77, Active Conservationist|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/21/obituaries/john-hh-phipps-77-active-conservationist.html|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=21 April 1982}}
Hubert Beaumont Phipps (1905–1969), who married Lady Phoebe Pleydell-Bouverie, third daughter of William Pleydell-Bouverie, 7th Earl of Radnor.{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=Hubert B. Phipps Dies at 63; Virginia Publisher and Editor|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D05E6D9103AEF3BBC4F52DFBE668382679EDE&legacy=true|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=17 August 1969}}
Margaret Phipps Boegner (1906–2006),{{cite news|last1=Hevesi|first1=Dennis|title=Margaret Phipps Boegner, 99, Who Founded Old Westbury Gardens, Is Dead|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/obituaries/19boegner.html|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=19 September 2006}} who married J. Gordon Douglas, Jr.{{cite news |title=Miss Peggie Phipps Engaged To Marry. Her Betrothal To J. Gordon Douglas Jr. Is Announced By Her Parents. Members Of Old Families. She Is A Granddaughter Of The Late M. P. Grace and Of Henry Phipps, Carnegie's Partner. |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0C10FA385C11738DDDA10A94D0405B808FF1D3 |work=New York Times |date=August 28, 1930 |accessdate=2010-03-29 }}
Michael Grace Phipps (1910–1973), who married Muriel Fillans "Molly" Lane (1909–1968).{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New York|title=MICHAEL G. PHIPPS, POLO STAR, WAS 63|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/15/archives/michael-g-phipps-polo-star-was-63-holder-of-10goal-handicap-with-3.html?_r=0|accessdate=19 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=15 March 1973}}

He died on April 27, 1958, in Palm Beach, Florida.{{cite news |title=Died |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,863430,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422055018/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,863430,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 22, 2009 |work=Time magazine |date=May 12, 1958|accessdate=2009-02-20}}

John Shaffer Phipps

Early life

Estates

Personal life

See also

References

Further reading