Fernando Yznaga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fernando Yznaga
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| Born |
Fernando Alfonso Yznaga del Valle
October 16, 1850 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | March 6, 1901 (aged 50) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Education | Lawrence Scientific School Louisiana Law School |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Employer | H. B. Hollins & Co. |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Virginia Smith
(m. 1880; div. 1886)Mabel Elizabeth Wright
(m. 1890; div. 1895) |
| Parent(s) | Antonio Modesto Yznaga del Valle Ellen Maria Clements |
| Relatives | Consuelo Montagu, Duchess of Manchester (sister) William Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester (nephew) |
Fernando Alfonso Yznaga del Valle (born October 16, 1850 – died March 6, 1901) was a Cuban American banker. He was a well-known figure in New York society and was known for being very entertaining and clever.
Early Life and Family
Fernando Yznaga was born in New York City on October 16, 1850. He was the oldest of four children and the only son. His parents were Antonio Modesto Yznaga del Valle and Ellen Maria Clements.
His father came from an old Cuban family. They owned a large plantation and sugar mills in Trinidad, Cuba. The family also had connections to several important families in Spain. Besides their properties in Cuba and Louisiana, Fernando's parents owned homes in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island.
Fernando had three sisters:
- Consuelo Yznaga: She married George Montagu, 8th Duke of Manchester in 1876.
- Natica Yznaga: She married Sir John Lister-Kaye, 3rd Baronet in 1881.
- Emilie Yznaga: She never married.
Fernando's maternal grandfather, Samuel Clements, was a steamboat captain. He owned a plantation in Louisiana. Fernando's mother inherited this plantation. Through his sister Consuelo, Fernando was an uncle to William Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester.
Fernando studied at the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard University. Later, he earned a law degree from Louisiana Law School. This was while he was at his family's plantation in Louisiana.
Career as a Banker
After his oldest sister, Consuelo, married the Duke of Manchester, Fernando moved to New York City. After his first marriage, he reportedly received a position on the New York Stock Exchange. He then joined the banking firm of H. B. Hollins & Co. at 15 Wall Street. This firm was connected to important figures like William Kissam Vanderbilt and J. Pierpont Morgan.
Fernando was known as an "excellent businessman." He made his fortune working at H. B. Hollins & Co. He worked there for twenty years until his death in 1901.
Fernando remained good friends with William Kissam Vanderbilt. They were often seen together, along with Winfield Hoyt. People called them the "Three Vanderbilt Musketeers." Fernando was also a member of several well-known social clubs in New York. These included the Union Club, the Tuxedo Club, and the Metropolitan Club. He lived at the Metropolitan Club in 1891.
Personal Life
On September 22, 1880, Fernando Yznaga married Mary Virginia "Jennie" Smith. She was the sister of Alva Vanderbilt. The wedding took place at the Vanderbilt home in Oakdale, Long Island. Jennie's father was Murray Forbes Smith, a merchant. Her mother was Phoebe Ann Smith. Fernando and Jennie later separated in 1886. Jennie then remarried and moved to France.
Fernando later married Mabel Elizabeth Wright on March 4, 1890. This marriage was a surprise to many people in society. After their wedding, they traveled to Europe. When they returned, they lived in New York and at Tuxedo Park. Mabel later separated from Fernando in 1895. She then married Count Bela Zichy from Hungary.
Fernando Yznaga died on March 6, 1901, in New York City. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx. His estate, which was worth about $2,000,000, was mostly left to his sister, Consuelo.
