Cornelius H. DeLamater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cornelius Henry DeLamater
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| Born | August 30, 1821 |
| Died | February 2, 1889 (aged 67) |
| Occupation | Industrialist |
| Years active | 1841–1889 |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth Oakley Caller DeLamater |
| Children | Laura DeLamater Bevin |
Cornelius Henry DeLamater (born August 30, 1821 – died February 2, 1889) was a very important businessman. He owned a large factory called DeLamater Iron Works in New York City. During the Civil War, his factory built the steam engines and other parts for the famous ironclad ship, the USS Monitor. The inventor John Ericsson, who designed the Monitor, was DeLamater's closest friend.
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Who Was Cornelius DeLamater?
Cornelius H. DeLamater was born in Rhinebeck, New York, on August 30, 1821. When he was three years old, his family moved to New York City. His father worked at a small iron factory called Phoenix Iron Works.
At 16, Cornelius started working at the Phoenix Foundry. When the owner died, Cornelius, at age 20, started his own company with Peter Hogg. They called it Hogg and DeLamater. This company lasted from 1842 to 1857.
The DeLamater Iron Works
After Peter Hogg retired, Cornelius renamed the company DeLamater Iron Works. He moved it to a new location in Manhattan. Cornelius was very good at solving problems with steam engines and machines.
During the Civil War, he worked closely with Captain John Ericsson. They quickly built the ironclad ships Monitor and Dictator. These were powerful ships covered in iron to protect them.
DeLamater Iron Works became famous as a place where inventors could try out new ideas. They built the Iron Witch, which was the first steamboat made of iron. They also built the ship Ericsson, which used Captain Ericsson's new hot air engine. Many "firsts" were built at DeLamater Iron Works. These included the first submarine boat and the first self-propelled torpedo. The engines for the original Monitor were also made there. When Cornelius died, his factory employed over 1,000 people.
DeLamater's Home on Long Island
Cornelius DeLamater spent his free time at a large property called Beacon Farm. This farm was located on Eatons Neck, Long Island, New York. He owned a huge area of land, about 1,250 acres (5.1 square kilometers). The New York Times newspaper said he had the "finest blooded stock in America" there.
His estate included a large part of what is now Asharoken Beach. The DeLamater Mansion is still standing today on the Eatons Neck peninsula. In 1942, a famous French author named Antoine de Saint Exupéry rented this mansion. He wrote his famous book The Little Prince while living there.
Over time, DeLamater's children and grandchildren also built their own large homes nearby. Some of these homes, like "The Point" and "The Hill", are still standing.
Cornelius DeLamater's Passing
Cornelius DeLamater passed away at his home in New York City on February 2, 1889. More than 600 of his employees attended his funeral. About 500 of them traveled with his casket on a special train. The train went from Manhattan to Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, where he was buried.
