Seth Low (January 18, 1850 - September 17, 1916), born in Brooklyn, New York, was an American educator and political figure who served as mayor of Brooklyn, as President of Columbia University, as diplomatic representative of the United States, and as Mayor of New York City. Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person Columbia University is a private University in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Mayor of New York City is the head of the executive branch of the Government of New York City.
Contents |
Early life
Low attended the Polytechnic Preparatory (now Poly Prep Country Day School) high school in Brooklyn and Columbia College. Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. History Columbia College was founded as King’s College by royal charter of King George II of England in the Low, whose father, Abiel Abbot Low, was a leading China trader, then spent several years in the family's business through the 1870s, but left to enter politics. Abiel Abbot Low ( February 7, 1811 – January 7, 1893) was an American entrepreneur businessman trader and philanthropist who gained In 1880 he married Anne Wroe Scollay Curtis of Boston in 1880, daughter of Justice Benjamin R. Curtis of the United States Supreme Court. Benjamin Robbins Curtis ( November 4, 1809 &ndash September 15, 1874) was an American Attorney and United States Supreme The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary.
Mayor of Brooklyn
Low became mayor of Brooklyn in 1881, following in the footsteps of his paternal grandfather, who was Brooklyn's mayor earlier in the century. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He served two terms until 1885, and seemed to have been a popular leader, but his support of Grover Cleveland in 1884 caused a rift with his fellow Republicans and cost him a third term. Year 1885 ( MDCCCLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18 1837 June 24 1908 was both the twenty-second and twenty-fourth President of the United States. Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
Presidency of Columbia University
Following his tenure as mayor of Brooklyn, Low assumed the presidency of Columbia College, serving between 1890 and 1901, during which time he led the move of the institution from Midtown Manhattan to Morningside Heights, and secured trustee approval to change its name to "Columbia University". History Columbia College was founded as King’s College by royal charter of King George II of England in the Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting See also Manhattan Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial Morningside Heights is a neighborhood of the Borough of Manhattan in New York City and is chiefly known as the home of institutions such as Barnard The new campus matched Low's vision of a civic university fully integrated into the city; the original design, subsequently reconceived, left it open to the street and surrounding neighborhoods. In 1895, he gave one million dollars for Low Memorial Library to be built at the new Columbia University campus. Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Low Memorial Library is the administrative center of Columbia University. It was to be dedicated to his father, Abiel Abbot Low (1811-1893), who was the wealthiest China trader in New York, importing teas, porcelains, and silk. Abiel Abbot Low ( February 7, 1811 – January 7, 1893) was an American entrepreneur businessman trader and philanthropist who gained Year 1811 ( MDCCCXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common It was with the inheritance from his father that he built the library, which opened in 1897. Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common
International Peace Conference
On July 4, 1899 he was one of the American delegates to attend the International Peace Conference at The Hague. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The International Peace Conference was an Anti-war conference held on December 10, 2005. Others in the delegation were Andrew D. White, then the United States Ambassador to the German Empire; Stanford Newel of Minnesota, then the United States Minister to the Netherlands; Captain Alfred Mahan, of the United States Navy; Captain William Crozier, of the United States Army; and Frederick Holls of New York. Andrew Dickson White (November 7 1832 &ndash November 4 1918 was a U Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Alfred Thayer Mahan (September 27 1840–December 1 1914 was a United States Navy Flag officer, geostrategist, and educator William Crozier was a United States America artillerist and inventor born at Carrollton Ohio on February 19 1855, was the son of Robert Crozier The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous
At the conference, Low made the concluding speech. His remarks were printed two months later in The New York Times. He said:
- On this day, so full for Americans of thoughts connected with their National Independence, we may not forget that Americans have yet other grounds for gratitude to the people of the Netherlands. We cannot forget that our flag received its first foreign salute from a Dutch officer, nor that the Province of Friesland gave to our independence its first formal recognition. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Friesland ( West Frisian: Fryslân, Dutch Friesland) is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the bigger region known By way of Leyden and Delft-Haven and Plymouth Rock, and again by way of New Amsterdam, the free public school reached American shores. "Leyden" redirects here For other uses see Leyden (disambiguation. Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony New Amsterdam (Nieuw Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that later became New York City.
- The United States of America have taken their name from the United States of the Netherlands. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the "United Netherlands" redirects here For the "Kingdom of the United Netherlands" see United Kingdom of the Netherlands. We have learned from you only that "in union there is strength"; that is an old lesson, but also, in large measure, how to make "One out of many. " From you we have learned what we, at least, value, to separate Church and State; and from you we gather inspiration at all times in our devotion to learning, to religious liberty, and to individual and National freedom. These are some of the things for which we believe the American people owe no little gratitude to the Dutch; and these are the things for which today, speaking in the name of the American people, we venture to express their heartfelt thanks.
Mayor of New York City
He resigned as president of the university to become the second mayor of the newly consolidated City of New York (1902 to 1903). The City of New York Year 1902 ( MCMII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1903 ( MCMIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting During his 1901 campaign, he had the support of humorist Mark Twain. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30 1835 – April 21 1910 better known by the Pen name Mark Twain, was an American Humorist, satirist He and Twain made a joint appearance that The New York Times, on October 30, 1901, said drew a crowd of more than 2,000. Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting "Ten minutes before the opening of the meeting the rush of those trying to crowd into the already packed hall became so threatening that a half dozen policemen at the entrance were almost carried off their feet, and were forced, by way of precaution, to close the doors," said the Times. "Within the hall every available inch of space was called into requisition. Men and boys climbed up the latticework surrounding the elevator at one side of the hall, and climbed up on window sills and wherever there was an inch to give a foothold above the heads of the rest of the men. "
Even though Low's first campaign for mayor of consolidated New York in 1897 was unsuccessful-partially because of a division among anti-Tammany Hall candidates and parties-he managed to attain office four years later. [1]
Low stands out as the first mayor of Greater New York to be elected on a fusion ticket, with the support of both the Citizens Union and Republican parties. Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties support a common Candidate, pooling the votes for all those parties Citizens Union is one of the United States' first Good government groups Some of his notable achievements include the introduction of a civil service system-based upon merit-for hiring municipal employees, reducing widespread graft within the police department, improving the system of education within the city, and lowering taxes. The New York City Department of Education ( NYCDOE) is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system Despite these seemingly impressive achievements he only served for one year, and was defeated in 1903 by George B. McClellan, Jr., the son of famous Civil War general-and failed Democratic candidate for president - George Brinton McClellan. George Brinton McClellan Jr, ( November 23, 1865 &ndash November 30, 1940) was an American politician statesman and educator George Brinton McClellan Jr, ( November 23, 1865 &ndash November 30, 1940) was an American politician statesman and educator
Later life
He was chairman of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama from 1907 until his death in 1916. Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. Year 1907 ( MCMVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year From 1907, he was also president of the business-labour alliance, the National Civic Federation. Year 1907 ( MCMVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The National Civic Federation, was a federation of American businesses and labor leaders founded in 1900 Even though he believed in collective bargaining rights, which had customarily been denied to labor unions by those in authority, he did not favor strikes, but rather, embraced arbitration as a suitable labor-management negotiation tactic.
On September 17, 1916, Low died in his home in Bedford Hills, New York. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Bedford Hills is an unincorporated hamlet in the Town of Bedford New York. Even his funeral demonstrated the ability of Low to reach political consensus, with honorary pallbearers that included both industrialist J. P. Morgan and labor activist and AFL founder Samuel Gompers. [2]
Further reading
- Benjamin R. C. Low, Seth Low (1925).
- Columbia Alumni News, Oct. 20, 1916.
- Board of Estimate and Apportionment and Board of Aldermen: Joint Session in Memory of Honorable Seth Low . . . Sept. 25, 1916 (1916).
- A. L. Moffat, "Low Geneal. : The Descendants of Seth Low and Mary Porter" (1932), a copy of which is in the Lib. of Cong. ; and the New York press of Sept. 18, 1916.
External links
- Seth Low Biography
- Seth Low Quotes
- Mark Twain and Seth Low Speak
- Citizens Union
- Works by or about Seth Low in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
| Preceded by Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard |
President of Columbia University 1890 – 1901 |
Succeeded by Nicholas Murray Butler |
| Preceded by Robert A. Van Wyck |
Mayor of New York City 1902 – 1903 |
Succeeded by George B. McClellan, Jr. |
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic