Amos Tuck French facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amos Tuck French
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| Born | July 20, 1863 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | November 15, 1941 (aged 78) Chester, New Hampshire, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Harvard College |
| Spouse(s) |
Pauline LeRoy
(m. 1885; div. 1913)Martha Beeckman
(m. 1914; |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent(s) | Francis Ormond French Ellen Tuck French |
| Relatives | William Henry Vanderbilt III (nephew) Amos Tuck (grandfather) Edward Tuck (uncle) William M.R. French (cousin) |
Amos Tuck French (born July 20, 1863 – died November 15, 1941) was an important American banker. He was well-known in society during his time.
Early Life and Family
Amos Tuck French was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 20, 1863. His parents were Ellen Tuck French and Francis Ormond French. His father was a graduate of Harvard College and led the Manhattan Trust Company.
Amos had two sisters. His sister Ellen, known as "Elsie," was a good friend of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. Elsie married Gertrude's brother, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt. They later divorced, and Alfred sadly died on the Lusitania ship. Amos's other sister, Elizabeth, married a British nobleman, Herbert Eaton, 3rd Baron Cheylesmore.
Amos French came from a family with many notable people. His grandfather, Benjamin Brown French, worked for the U.S. government. He was the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and later helped President Abraham Lincoln with public buildings. Amos's maternal grandfather, Amos Tuck, was a U.S. Representative and helped start the Republican Party. His uncle, Edward Tuck, was an American diplomat in Paris.
Amos Tuck French himself graduated from Harvard College in 1885.
A Career in Banking and Business
After college, Amos Tuck French began a career in finance. In 1887, he became a member of the New York Stock Exchange. This meant he could buy and sell stocks and bonds.
He also worked at the Manhattan Trust Company, where his father had been president. Amos held several important roles there, including treasurer, secretary, and vice-president. He retired from his main duties in 1900 but stayed on the board of directors until 1908.
Amos French was also a director for major railroad companies. He worked with the Northern Pacific Railway and the Northern Securities Company. The Northern Securities Company was a very large business group. It was formed by powerful figures like Harriman, Hill, and Morgan. This company controlled several big railroads, including the Northern Pacific, the Great Northern Railway, and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad.
Beyond his business work, Amos French was active in the social scene in New York and Newport. He was a member of many well-known clubs, like the Harvard Club of New York and the New York Yacht Club.
Personal Life
Amos Tuck French was married twice. His first marriage was to Pauline LeRoy in 1885. They had six children together:
- Pauline Leroy French (1886–1964)
- Francis Ormond French II (1888–1962)
- Julia Estelle French (1893–1963)
- Stuyvesant LeRoy French (1895–1974)
- Edward Tuck French (1899–1919)
- Amos Tuck French Jr. (1901–1975)
Amos and Pauline later divorced in 1913.
In 1914, he married Martha Beeckman. Martha was the sister of Robert Livingston Beeckman, who became the Governor of Rhode Island. She was also related to other important historical figures, like Robert Livingston the Elder and Philip Livingston, who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Amos Tuck French passed away on November 15, 1941, at his home in Chester, New Hampshire. He was buried in the Chester Village Cemetery.
Descendants
Through his son Francis, Amos Tuck French had granddaughters who also married into notable families. His granddaughter Ellen Tuck French (1915–1974) was the first wife of John Jacob Astor VI. Another granddaughter, Virginia Middleton French (1917–2011), married William Force Dick, who was John Jacob Astor VI's half-brother.
