Robert Moran (shipbuilder) facts for kids
Robert Moran (born January 26, 1857 – died March 27, 1943) was a famous Seattle shipbuilder. He also served as the mayor of Seattle from 1888 to 1890. People remember him for his shipbuilding company, Moran Brothers Co., his work as mayor after the Great Seattle fire, and his large home on Orcas Island, which later became a resort and Moran State Park.
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Robert Moran's Early Life
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Robert Moran was born in New York City. When he was 18, in 1875, he arrived in Seattle with no money. Seattle was a new town in the Pacific Northwest back then.
He worked on steamboats for several years. He saved enough money to bring his family to Seattle. By 1882, he and his brothers started a business to fix ships at Yesler's wharf.
Building Ships and Success
Their company, the Moran Brothers Company, grew very quickly during the Klondike Gold Rush. This was a time when many people rushed to find gold.
During this period, they built many things. They even built a group of twelve 176-foot long paddlewheel riverboats. These boats were used on the Yukon River.
Robert Moran as Mayor
In 1888, when he was 31 years old, Robert Moran was elected mayor of Seattle. He was a member of the Republican party. Back then, mayors were elected for one-year terms in July.
The Great Seattle Fire
Near the end of his first term, on June 6, 1889, a huge fire called the Great Seattle Fire happened. It destroyed most of the main business area in Seattle.
Mayor Moran showed strong leadership. He helped organize the city's recovery efforts. Because of his great work, he was elected for a second term the very next month.
Rebuilding Seattle
During his time as mayor, he helped rebuild many businesses. His own company, Moran Bros., was also destroyed in the fire, but it was rebuilt too. His connections in politics helped his shipbuilding company get important contracts from the government.
As part of the rebuilding, his team worked on improving Seattle's water system. They also started a savings and loan association, which later became a big bank called Washington Mutual.
Life After Being Mayor
After being mayor, Moran focused completely on his shipbuilding business. In 1904, his shipyard launched the USS Nebraska. This was Washington state's only battleship. It was a big achievement for him.
Moving to Orcas Island
In 1905, Robert Moran was told he had only one year to live. He decided to move to Orcas Island in the San Juans area of Puget Sound. There, he built a large home called the Moran Mansion. At that time, it was surrounded by 7,800 acres of land. Today, this mansion is the main part of Rosario Resort.
In 1906, he sold his shipbuilding company. The price was between 2.5 and 3.5 million US dollars.
Creating Moran State Park
Robert Moran spent the rest of his life living quietly on Orcas Island. He was inspired by a conservationist named John Muir. In 1916, he had a 132-foot yacht built, named the Sanwan.
In 1921, he gave 2,700 acres of his land at Rosario to the state of Washington. He wanted this land to be protected. This land became Moran State Park, a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy.
His wife passed away in 1932. After that, he put his large estate up for sale. When he finally sold it years later, it was for much less than it was worth. He then moved into a smaller house on Orcas Island. Robert Moran died in 1943 and was buried in the Moran family plot in Lake View Cemetery in Seattle.
