Lawrence Kip facts for kids

Lawrence Kip (born September 17, 1836 – died November 17, 1899) was an American soldier, writer, and a well-known person in New York society. He was famous during a time called the Gilded Age, which was a period of great economic growth and wealth in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Lawrence Kip was born in Morristown, New Jersey, on September 17, 1836. His father was William Ingraham Kip, a very important minister who later became the Episcopal Bishop of California. His mother was Maria Elizabeth Lawrence.

Lawrence came from a family with a long history in America. His ancestors included Hendrick Hendricksen Kip, who was one of the first leaders in New Amsterdam (which is now New York City). The area known as Kips Bay, Manhattan in Manhattan is even named after his family.

Lawrence went to the Churchill Military Academy. Later, in June 1853, he was accepted as a Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This is a famous school for training military officers.

Military Career

After graduating from West Point in 1857, Lawrence Kip became a Second Lieutenant in the Third Artillery. He joined an expedition against Native American tribes in the northern areas. He was recognized for his bravery in battles like the Battle of Four Lakes and Spokane Plains. In 1859, he wrote a book about his experiences called Army Life on the Pacific.

When the U.S. Civil War began in 1861, Kip was an Adjutant (a military assistant) for the Third Artillery. He soon joined General Edwin Vose Sumner's staff as a senior aide-de-camp (a personal assistant to a high-ranking officer), reaching the rank of Major.

He fought in many important battles with the Army of the Potomac. These included the Battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, Savage's Station, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Antietam, and Fredericksburg in 1862. He also fought in the Battle of Mine Run in 1863.

During the Seven Days Battles in 1862, he served as an acting Adjutant General. General Sumner praised his bravery and recommended him for higher ranks, but these recommendations were not approved at the time.

After General Sumner's death in 1863, Kip worked for General John E. Wool. He later rejoined the Army of the Potomac and fought in the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station.

He then became an aide-de-camp for Major General Philip Sheridan. He was wounded in the Battle of Trevilian Station in 1864 and slightly wounded again at Battle of Cedar Creek in 1864. For his brave service, he was given the honorary rank of Captain.

In 1865, he participated in the final battles of the war, including Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks, and Appomattox Court House. This last battle is where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered, ending the Civil War. For his bravery in these battles, he received honorary ranks of Major and Lieutenant Colonel.

Lawrence Kip left the military in 1867.

Society Life

Lawrence Kip and his wife, Eva, were very well-known in New York society. In 1892, they were listed in "Four Hundred" by Ward McAllister. This list was said to include New York's most important families. The number 400 was chosen because that was how many people could fit into the ballroom of Mrs. Astor, a leading social figure.

Kip was very interested in horse breeding and racing. He was the president of the Coney Island Jockey Club, which was the first major horse racing track in the United States. He also led the Suburban Riding and Driving Club and was a vice-president of the National Show Horse Association. He was a member of several exclusive clubs, including the Union Club of the City of New York and the Metropolitan Club.

Personal Life

On April 23, 1867, Lawrence Kip married Eva Lorillard. Eva came from a very wealthy family; her father, Pierre Lorillard III, was an heir to the Lorillard Tobacco Company. Her family was known for being one of America's first "millionaires."

Lawrence and Eva had three children:

• Eva Maria Kip (1868–1870), who died when she was very young.
• Edith Kip (born around 1872–died 1949), who married twice.
• Lorillard Kip (1872–1896), who died unmarried at age 25 from typhoid fever.

Lawrence Kip passed away on November 17, 1899, at his home in New York City after being ill for about three weeks. His funeral was held at Grace Church in New York, and he was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Descendants

Through his daughter Edith, Lawrence Kip had four grandchildren. These included Lawrence B. McCreery and Lorillard Kip McCreery from her first marriage, and Victor Henry Coventry and Cecil George Coventry from her second marriage.

Published Works

• Army Life on the Pacific; A Journal of the Expedition Against the Northern Indians, the Tribes of the Coeur dÁlenes, Spokans, and Pelouzes, in the Summer of 1858, Redfield, Bedford, Massachusetts, (1859).