Hezekiah Pierrepont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hezekiah Pierrepont
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engraved portrait by John Chester Buttre
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| Born | 1768 |
| Died | 1838, aged c.70 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | merchant, adventurer, farmer, landowner, developer |
| Known for | "founding" of Brooklyn Heights |
Hezekiah Beers Pierrepont (1768–1838) was an important American businessman. He was a merchant, farmer, and a big landowner. He is best known for helping to develop Brooklyn Heights in Brooklyn, New York. He even changed his family name back to its original French spelling, "Pierrepont."
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Early Life and Adventures
Hezekiah Pierrepont was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1768. His family had lived in New England for a long time. His grandfather was one of the people who helped start Yale University.
When he was 25, Pierrepont started a career as a merchant-adventurer in 1793. He made some money by investing in the government's debt. This means he bought promises from the government to pay money back later.
He moved to Paris, France, and began importing goods. He worked with his cousin. Their business grew to include trade with India and China. However, his ship, the Confederacy, was captured in 1797. This happened in the China Sea by privateers. Privateers were like legal pirates, allowed by a government to attack enemy ships.
Pierrepont was on the ship when it was captured. He had made a small fortune, but he lost it all. He became bankrupt and returned to the United States. In 1802, he settled in Brooklyn.
Becoming a Landowner
Pierrepont married Anna Marie Constable. Her family was well-known in New York for their businesses and land. As a wedding gift, her father gave them half a million acres of land. This made Pierrepont a very large property owner in upstate New York. The town of Pierrepont, New York is named after him.
He also bought 60 acres of land in what is now Brooklyn Heights. This land included parts of several farms. He built a large house there. Pierrepont also bought and expanded a gin distillery. It was located on the East River at what is now Joralemon Street. He produced a popular drink called Anchor Gin. But other distilleries caused his profits to drop. He left the business in 1819.
Developing Brooklyn Heights
Pierrepont wanted to divide his land into smaller plots to sell. He knew that people would need an easy way to cross the East River. So, he became a major investor in Robert Fulton's New York and Brooklyn Steam Ferry Boat Company. Fulton's company started running ferries in 1814.
Thanks to Pierrepont and other landowners, Brooklyn became a village in 1816. The city then planned a street layout for the area. There were different ideas for how big the land lots should be. John and Jacob Hicks owned land north of Pierrepont's property. They wanted smaller lots for tradesmen. Pierrepont wanted larger lots to attract wealthy merchants from Manhattan.
Pierrepont hired a surveyor to create his own plan. In the end, the Hicks' plan was used north of Clark Street. Pierrepont's plan was used south of it. His lots were 25 by 100 feet (8 by 30 meters).
With new streets came sidewalks and water pumps. A neighborhood watch was also started. By 1823, Pierrepont was selling lots to New York bankers. He advertised how easy it was to travel by ferry. He also highlighted the special quality of the neighborhood. Soon, Brooklyn Heights became the first "commuter suburb." Pierrepont became known as the first important developer of suburbs.
In 1834, Brooklyn wanted to build a grand City Hall. Pierrepont and his son, Henry E. Pierrepont, had studied cities in Europe. They decided to develop some of their unused land behind Brooklyn Heights. They wanted to make it like European cities. They hoped the new City Hall would be built there. This would attract more people to the area.
They sold a triangular piece of land to the City of Brooklyn. It was at the meeting point of Fulton, Joralemon, and Court Streets. This was chosen as the site for City Hall. The first stone for what is now Brooklyn Borough Hall was laid there in 1836.
Death and Legacy
Hezekiah Pierrepont died in Brooklyn in 1838. He is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery. His son, Henry, helped to start this cemetery. Hezekiah and his wife Anna are remembered there. Their memorial is a beautiful Gothic Revival pavilion. It was designed by Richard Upjohn.
