Robert Schuyler

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For the historian, educator and editor, see Robert Livingston Schuyler. For the architect, see Robert Sands Schuyler. For the archaeologist and anthropologist, see Robert Schuyler (professor).
Robert Schuyler
1st President of the
Illinois Central Railroad
In office
March 19, 1851 – July 3, 1854
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byWilliam Porter Burrall
Personal details
Born
Robert Schuyler

(1798-09-16)September 16, 1798
Rhinebeck, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 15, 1855(1855-11-15) (aged 57)
Nice, France
Resting placeGreenridge Cemetery
Spouse
Lucinda Wood
​
(m. 1826)​
RelationsSee Schuyler family
Children6, including Robert
Parent(s)Philip Jeremiah Schuyler
Sarah Rutsen
Alma materHarvard College
OccupationPresident of the New York and New Haven Railroad

Robert Schuyler or Robert Livingston Schuyler[1] (September 16, 1798 – November 15, 1855), was a financier, steamboat operator, and railroad president who acted as the de facto head of the prominent Schuyler family during his adulthood. Schuyler was called "America's first railroad king."[2] He had a role in America's first large-scale stock fraud on the New York and New Haven Railroad.[3] His scandal is among the greatest scandals in Wall Street history alongside the Bernie Madoff scandal and the Richard Whitney scandal.[4]

Early life[edit]

Schuyler was born in Rhinebeck, New York, in 1798. He was the youngest of five children born to Philip Jeremiah Schuyler (1768–1835), a U.S. Representative, and Sarah Rutsen (1770–1803), who died when he was young. After his mother's death in 1803, his father remarried to Mary Anna Sawyer (1786–1852), the daughter of Micajah Sawyer, a founding member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences, with whom he had three more children. His siblings from his parents marriage were Philip P. Schuyler, who married Rosanna Livingston; Stephan Van Rensselaer Schuyler, who married Catherine Morris; Catherine Schuyler, who married Samuel Jones; and John Rutsen Schuyler. His half-siblings from his father's second marriage were William Schuyler; Sybil Schuyler; and George Lee Schuyler (1811–1890), who married Eliza Hamilton, daughter of his cousin, James Alexander Hamilton (son of Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler Hamilton). After her death, he married Eliza's sister, Mary Morris Hamilton.[5][1]

His paternal grandparents were Philip Schuyler (1733–1804), a Revolutionary War General and U.S. Senator, and Catherine Van Rensselaer (1734–1803), a member of the prominent Van Rensselaer family. His maternal grandfather was John Rutsen (1743–1771), a descendant of Wilhelmus Beekman and inheritor of a large portion of the Beekman Patent, which encompassed much of what is now Dutchess County.

Schuyler graduated with a B.A. degree[1] from Harvard College in 1817,[6] where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa society,[7] and the Porcellian Club, along with Samuel Atkins Eliot, Wyllys Lyman, Samuel Joseph May, Thomas Russell Sullivan, Charles Henry Warren, and Francis William Winthrop.[8] His mathematical thesis at Harvard was on "fluxional solutions."[9]

Career[edit]

Schuyler started his career with steamboats.[10] In 1838, he was president of the New York and Boston Transportation Company,[11][12] of which William W. Woolsey, Moses B. Ives, and James G. King were among the directors.[13] The company later became known as the New Jersery Steam Navigation and Transportation Company as well as the Transportation Company.[14] He owned steamboats, including one called the Chancellor Livingston in the 1840s, which was his principal business.[15] Around 1846, he became involved with the railroads along with his half-brother, George Lee Schuyler, who formed R. & G. L. Schuyler, a railroad contracting firm.[15] According to William B. Astor, Schuyler was spoken of as a skillful engineer and a man of good business capacity.[15]

Railroad career[edit]

At one time, Schuyler was president of five railroads, including the New York & New Haven Railroad, the Harlem, the Illinois Central, the Rensselaer & Saratoga, and the Sangamon & Morgan Railroads. In addition to helping develop several others, including the Vermont Valley Railroad,[16] thereby earning the title of "America’s first railroad king."[17] He was also secretary of the Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad, treasurer of the Housatonic Railroad Company, and vice-president of the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company.[18]

During his career, Schuyler was considered a master negotiator and when he was president of the Harlem Railroad, he arranged a running agreement with Edwin D. Morgan, then the president of the Hudson River Railroad, and later a U.S. Senator and Governor of New York.[15] He was involved with many of the leading bankers, financiers, and investors of the day including, Gouverneur Morris, Elihu Townsend,[16] Cornelius Vanderbilt, and August Belmont.[19] Schuyler was also a founding member of the Union Club, the city's oldest social club.[4]

From March 19, 1851, to July 3, 1854, Schuyler served as the first president of Illinois Central Railroad,[20] following his company's initial purchase of a finished portion of the railway from Jacksonville to Meredosia in the 1840s.[21] The Railroad was the recipient of the first federal land grant.[19] Upon his resignation following the 1854 scandal, he was succeeded by the vice-president of the Railroad, William Porter Burrall.[21]

1854 fraud[edit]

Schuyler served as president of the New York and New Haven Railroad, which began service on Christmas Day, 1848. In addition to his role as president, he was also the company's sole transfer agent, which meant that every sale of the company stock went through him alone.[17] Following the Norwalk disaster in 1853,[22] and after the railroad's stock price dropped in the summer of 1854, he wrote to the board of directors resigning and stating "Your attention to the stock ledgers of your Company is essential, as you will find there is much that is wrong."[17] The discovery of his fraud in 1854 has been referred to as "America’s first large-scale stock fraud." It was eventually discovered that Schuyler issued 19,540 shares in unauthorized stock certificates (worth approximately $2 million US$2,000,000 (equivalent to about $67,822,200 in 2023)) for the railroad.[17][23] To compound matters, Schuyler had used the fraudulent stock as collateral against loans taken out by several people, including one from Cornelius Vanderbilt for US$600,000 (equivalent to about $20,346,700 in 2023).[11][4]

Due to Schuyler's vast business interest and prominence at the highest levels of New York society,[15] the discovery caused a shock and sensation throughout the northeast. The fraud caused the railroad to endure years of legal battles as well as a loss of $1.8 million US$1,800,000 (equivalent to about $61,040,000 in 2023). Indirectly, the fraud caused Wall Street to enact legal and procedural changes to avoid similar types of fraud.[3][24][25] While the Justice Daniel P. Ingraham of the New York State Supreme Court initially found that the stock issued by Schuyler was void,[26] the appeal eventually made it the U.S. Supreme Court, where the fraudulently issued stocks were upheld.[27] The newspapers of the day covered the fraud and its effects for several years.[28][29][30][31]

Schuyler wrote to The New York Times in July 1855, attempting to explain away the scandal as a misunderstanding stating "I hope you will publish this statement, which I have prepared under great difficulty--without documents, and upon your report alone--in the greatest debility of body, and in broken spirit, but with clear recollection."[32]

Following the scandal, Schuyler fled to Canada through Quebec.[19] He then went on to Geneva and Nice, France, where he died in November 1855, apparently caused by "grief and mortification."[17]

Personal life[edit]

Schuyler maintained a residence at 149 Mercer Street during his time in New York City.[33] Schuyler, who was known to society as a bachelor,[34] had a long-term relationship with Lucinda Waldron "Lucy" Wood (1807–1882). Together, they were the parents of six children.[35] Reportedly, even though he was the father of her children, they didn't marry because she was from a less well-known and respectable family than his.[11] However, when his eldest daughters wanted to marry, her fiancé discovered that her father was the famous Robert Schuyler and that she was, in fact, an illegitimate child. The fiancé, a Reverend, insisted that in order for them to marry, her parents must marry. Therefore, Schuyler agreed to marry Lucinda and installed her and the family in a fashionable home in Manhattan on 22nd Street.[11][36] Other reports indicated that he actually married Wood in 1826, but didn't socially acknowledge the marriage until the 1850s.[15][17] Their children included:[37]

Schuyler died in Nice, France, on November 15, 1855.[35] His coffin was sent back to New York and he was buried at Greenridge Cemetery in Saratoga Springs, New York.[1] Even after his death, the newspapers reported seeing him abroad.[43]

Following his death, his New York City home and its contents were auctioned off and reportedly became a brothel run by "Mrs. Van Ness."[33] After his death, his widow moved back to the United States and retired to a cabin on Saratoga Lake.[11]

Descendants[edit]

Through his daughter Julia, he was the grandfather of Major Robert Schuyler Lamson (1855–1876),[44] who died at 21 years of age at Darfour in Upper Egypt from malarious fever while serving in the Egyptian Army[39][45] as a mercenary,[46] and George Henry Lamson (1852–1882), a doctor in Paris who developed a morphine addiction, which was said to have caused him to murder his wife's brother. He was found guilty of murder and hanged in 1882 at Wandsworth Gaol in London.[39]

Through his youngest son William, he was the grandfather of Philip William Schuyler (b. 1861), who married Amanda Mason Erwen, daughter of Robert Moody Erwen and Agnes (née Gominger) Erwen, in 1886.[35]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Renehan Jr., Edward J. (2009). Commodore: The Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Basic Books. p. 340. ISBN 9780465010301. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  2. ^ Cox, Terry (2003). Collectible Stocks and Bonds from North American Railroads: Guide with Prices. Terry Cox. p. 60. ISBN 9780974648507. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b Mahler, Michael (July 25, 2009). "Robert Schuyler's 1853–4 Stock Fraud on the New York and New Haven Rail Road: the Paper Trail" (PDF). revenuer.org. The American Revenue Association. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Gordon, John Steele (August 10, 2009). "Before Madoff, We Had Schuyler and Whitney". Barrons. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  5. ^ Reynolds, Cuyler (1914). Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River Valley: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Building of a Nation. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 1186. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  6. ^ Gordon, John Steele (Spring 2009). "Wall Street's 10 Most Notorious Stock Traders | The country's financial hub has a long history of lying, cheating, and stealing". American Heritage. 59 (1). Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  7. ^ Phi Beta Kappa Society (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) (1806). A Catalogue of the Members belonging to the Society of ФВК 1806 (1810, 1814, 1818, 1829, 1833, 1836, 1839, 1842, 1846, 1849, 1853, 1856, 1861). Alpha of Massachusetts Harvard Chapter. p. 20. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  8. ^ Harvard University Porcellian Club (1857). Catalogue of the Porcellian Club of Harvard University. p. 30. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  9. ^ Harvard University Library (1888). Bibliographical Contributions. Press of John Wilson and Son. p. 9. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  10. ^ Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1839. p. 42. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e Stiles, T. J. (2009). The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 123, 239, 246–249, 256, 305–306, 651. ISBN 9780375415425. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  12. ^ Aldermen, New York (N. Y. ) Board of Assistant (1839). Journal and Documents of the Board of Assistants, of the City of New York. The Board. p. 218. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  13. ^ Tanner, T. R. (1840). New York As It Is; Containing a General Description of the City of New-York; List of Officers, Public Institutions, and Other Useful Information: Including the Public Officers, &c. of the City of Brooklyn. With Additions and Corrections. New York: T. R. Tanner. p. 153. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  14. ^ History of Steam Navigation Between New York & Providence. Wm. Turner & Company, Printers. 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Supreme Court. November 10, 1863. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  16. ^ a b Rutland Railroad Company (1872). Rutland Railroad Leases and Contracts: 1871. Tuttle. p. 34. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Jaffe, Eric (2010). The King's Best Highway: The Lost History of the Boston Post Road, the Route That Made America. Simon and Schuster. pp. 139–140. ISBN 9781439176108. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  18. ^ The New York City Directory. C.R. Rode, late Doggett & Rode. 1849. p. 17. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  19. ^ a b c Spingola, Deanna (2011). The Ruling Elite: A Study in Imperialism, Genocide and Emancipation. Trafford Publishing. p. 299. ISBN 9781426960635. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  20. ^ Geisst, Charles R. (2004). Wall Street: A History : from Its Beginnings to the Fall of Enron. Oxford University Press. p. 47. ISBN 9780195170603. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  21. ^ a b History of the Illinois Central Railroad Company and Representative Employes: A History of the Growth and Development of One of the Leading Arteries of Transportation in the United States, from Inception to Its Present Mammoth Proportions, Together with the Biographies of Many of the Men who Have Been and are Identified with the Varied Interests of the Illinois Central Railroad. Railroad Historical Company. 1900. pp. 97–100. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  22. ^ "THE NORWALK ACCIDENT.; To the Stockholders of the New-York and New-Haven Railroad Company". The New York Times. 12 May 1853. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  23. ^ Appeals, New York (State) Court of; Schuyler, Robert; Comstock, George Franklin (1858). The New York and New Haven Railroad Company Against Robert Schuyler and Others. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  24. ^ Withington, Sidney (1957). Railroad History. Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. p. 14. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  25. ^ "New-Haven Fraud--Important Decision". The New York Times. 26 June 1856. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  26. ^ "LAW REPORTS.; The Omnibus Suit Decided". The New York Times. 3 July 1860. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  27. ^ "The Schuyler Fraud Cases Again.; SUPREME COURT GENERAL TERM". The New York Times. 24 September 1863. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  28. ^ "THE SCHUYLER FRAUD.; MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS. Election of a New Board of Directors". The New York Times. 9 November 1854. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  29. ^ "THE TWO MILLION DEFALCATION.; Disclosures against Robert Schuyler. IMPORTANT EVIDENCE". The New York Times. 25 September 1854. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  30. ^ "NEW-YORK CITY.; Flight of Schuyler to Europe. A WARRANT FOR THE FUGITIVE. Charge of Forgery against Robert Schuyler. CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. THE NEW-HAVEN RAILROAD FRAUD. Speech of Caussidlere--A Look at the French Men of War. Celebration of the 22d September. RED REPUBLICAN DEMONSTRATION. Altered Bank Notes. The Knife Again in Use. The Death of Bishop Wainwright. Serious Charge of Seduction against a New-York Shipmaster. Frands on Emigrants". The New York Times. 23 September 1854. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  31. ^ "NEW-YORK CITY; MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. THE ALDERMEN. THE COUNCIL MEN. The Suspected Slaver. The 81,000 Robbery--A Great Part of the Money Recovered. New-York Volunteers. Commissioners of Emigration. Robert Schuyler. Mr. P.T. Barnum's Case. Police Intelligence". The New York Times. 20 March 1856. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  32. ^ "Letter from Robert Schuyler". The New York Times. 4 July 1855. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  33. ^ a b Miller, Tom (14 January 2017). "Daytonian in Manhattan: The 1826 Livingston House – No. 149 Mercer Street". daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  34. ^ Durocher, Aurele Adelard (1958). The Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad Company. p. 44. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  35. ^ a b c d e f American Ancestry: Giving the Name and Descent, in the Male Line, of Americans Whose Ancestors Settled in the United States Previous to the Declaration of Independence, A.D. 1776, Vol. IV. Albany, N.Y.: Joel Munsell's Sons, Publishers. 1889. p. 137. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  36. ^ "Schuyler, the Ruined Banker". The New York Times. 3 February 1855. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  37. ^ Sons of the American Revolution National Year Book. Sons of the American Revolution. 1908. p. 229. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  38. ^ Christoph, Florence A. (1992). Schuyler Genealogy: A Compendium of Sources Pertaining to the Schuyler Families in America Prior to 1800. Friends of Schuyler Mansion. pp. 43, 143, 234. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  39. ^ a b c Allen, Cameron (2013). The History of the American Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Paris (1815–1980). iUniverse. ISBN 9781475937817. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  40. ^ Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book. The Daughters of the American Revolution Society. 1930. p. 202. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  41. ^ The Churchman. Churchman Company. 1899. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  42. ^ a b Walworth, Clarence Augustus (1897). Walworths of America: Comprising Five Chapters of Family History, with Additional Chapters of Genealogy. Weed. p. 133. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  43. ^ "Robert Schuvler Alive?". The New York Times. 11 March 1856. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  44. ^ "DIED. Lamson". The New York Times. 22 December 1876. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  45. ^ Catalogue of Columbia College. Columbia College. 1875. p. 140. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  46. ^ Metaferia, Getachew (2009). Ethiopia and the United States: History, Diplomacy, and Analysis. Algora Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 9780875866468. Retrieved 9 February 2018.

External links[edit]

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