August Belmont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
August Belmont
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| Born | 8 December 1813 Alzey, Hesse
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| Died | 24 November 1890 |
| Resting place | Island Cemetery |
| Occupation | Financier, Racehorse owner/breeder |
| Spouse(s) | Caroline Slidell Perry |
| Children | Perry (12/28/1850-5/26/1947) m. Jessie Robbins Sloane August II (2/18/1853-12/10/1924) - m. 1st Bessie Hamilton Morgan / m. 2nd Eleanor Robson Oliver H. P. (11/12/1858-6/10/1908) m. 1st Sarah Swan Whiting / m. 2nd Alva Erskine Smith Raymond Rodgers (7/19/1863-1/30/1887) Jennie (died age 10) Fredericka (9/27/1854-5/31/1902) m. Samuel Shaw Howland |
| Parent(s) | Simon & Frederika Elsass Schönberg |
August Belmont, Sr. (born December 8, 1813 – died November 24, 1890) was an important American businessman and politician. He was born in Alzey, Hesse, which is now part of Germany. In 1837, he moved to New York City. There, he became the main representative for the famous Rothschild family's banking business in America.
Later, August Belmont became an American citizen. He married Caroline Slidell Perry. She was the daughter of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, a well-known naval officer.
Contents
Early Life and New Beginnings
August Belmont was born on December 8, 1813. His parents were Simon and Frederika Elsass Schönberg. When he was seven, his mother passed away. He then went to live with his uncle and grandmother in Frankfurt, Germany.
He went to Jewish schools there. After school, he started working as an apprentice for the Rothschilds. An apprentice learns a job by working for an expert. He did many tasks, like sweeping floors and running errands. At the same time, he studied English, math, and writing.
In 1832, he got a special job as a confidential clerk. This meant he handled important, secret papers. He was later promoted to private secretary. He traveled to cities like Naples, Paris, and Rome. In 1837, Belmont was supposed to go to Havana, Cuba. He was going to manage the Rothschilds' business there.
However, on his way to Havana, he stopped in New York. A big economic crisis called the Panic of 1837 was happening. Because of this, he stayed in New York to protect the Rothschilds' money. After he moved to the United States, he changed his last name. His original name, Schönberg, meant "beautiful mountain" in German. He changed it to Belmont, which means "beautiful mountain" in French.
Starting August Belmont & Company
During the Panic of 1837, many American businesses failed. This included the Rothschilds' main agents in America. Because of this, August Belmont decided to stay in New York. He started his own company, August Belmont & Company. He believed he could take over the work of the failed American agents.
His new company was a quick success. Over the next five years, Belmont helped the Rothschilds' business in the U.S. become strong again. In 1844, he was named the Consul-General of Austria in New York City. A Consul-General is a diplomat who represents their country in another city. He left this job in 1850. He disagreed with how Austria treated Hungary at the time.
Entering the World of Politics
August Belmont married Caroline Slidell Perry on November 7, 1849. Her uncle, John Slidell, helped Belmont get involved in politics. Belmont's first political task was to campaign for James Buchanan in New York. In 1851, he wrote letters to newspapers. He wanted them to support Buchanan for president.
However, Franklin Pierce won the nomination instead. Belmont gave a lot of money to the Democratic Party. After Pierce won, he appointed Belmont as a diplomat to The Hague in 1853. While in Holland, Belmont suggested that the U.S. should take over Cuba. This was a controversial idea at the time.
Even though Belmont worked hard for it, Buchanan did not make him the ambassador to Spain after he became president in 1856. This was partly because of his earlier suggestion about Cuba. In 1860, Belmont was a delegate at the Democratic National Convention. He supported Stephen A. Douglas. Douglas then made Belmont the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. This is a very important role in the party.
Belmont strongly supported the Union during the American Civil War. He helped a Missouri congressman, Francis Preston Blair Jr., gather and equip the Union army's first German-American regiment. Belmont also used his connections with European business and political leaders. He helped the Union cause in Europe. He stopped the Rothschilds and other bankers from lending money to the Confederacy. He even met with the British prime minister, Lord Palmerston, and members of Napoleon III’s government.
After the War: Political Career
Belmont remained chairman of the Democratic National Committee after the Civil War. He felt it was a very difficult time for the party. As early as 1862, Belmont and Samuel J. Tilden bought shares in the New York World newspaper. They wanted it to publish stories that supported the Democrats.
The Republican party was divided after the war. Belmont worked to organize new party meetings. He tried to get Salmon P. Chase elected president in 1868. He thought Chase was a good choice for the Democrats.
However, Horatio Seymour became the Democratic candidate instead. He lost to Ulysses S. Grant. In 1872, the Democrats supported Horace Greeley for president. This campaign did not go well. After this election, Belmont resigned as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. But he stayed interested in politics. He supported US Senator Thomas F. Bayard for president. He also strongly criticized the process that made Rutherford B. Hayes president in 1877.
Later Life and Legacy
August Belmont passed away in New York in 1890. A book of his writings, Letters, Speeches and Addresses of August Belmont, was published that same year. He left behind a large fortune, worth over ten million dollars. He is buried in Newport, Rhode Island.
His sons were Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, Perry Belmont, and August Belmont, Jr..
August Belmont in Culture
August Belmont was known for hosting fancy parties and dinners. People in New York high society had different opinions about them.
He loved sports, especially horse racing. The famous Belmont Stakes thoroughbred horse race is named in his honor. This race first took place at Jerome Park Racetrack. This track was owned by Belmont's friend, Leonard Jerome. Today, the Belmont Stakes is one of the three races in thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. It happens at Belmont Racetrack in New York.
The town of Belmont, New Hampshire, is also named after him. However, Mr. Belmont never acknowledged this honor. Some people believe that the character of Julius Beaufort in the book The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton was based on August Belmont.
A special dish called Ham mousseline à la Belmont was created in his honor. It was made by Charles Ranhofer at the famous Delmonico's restaurant.
- Our Crowd by Stephen Birmingham (c) 1967 Harper and Row NY Pages 57–62
Images for kids
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Statue of Belmont by John Quincy Adams Ward in Newport
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Caroline Slidell Perry Belmont, portrait by George Peter Alexander Healy
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Painting of Belmont in a carriage with his wife Caroline, by Wouterus Verschuur, 1854
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By-the-Sea, Belmont's Newport cottage, c. 1915
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