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August “The Elder” Belmont

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August “The Elder” Belmont Famous memorial

Birth
Alzey, Landkreis Alzey-Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Death
24 Nov 1890 (aged 73)
New York, New York County, New York, USA
Burial
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA GPS-Latitude: 41.4976692, Longitude: -71.3154678
Plot
Section: Belmont Circle, Lot 1, Grave 12
Memorial ID
View Source
Financier. Born in Alzei, Rhensih, Prussia he started his banking career early by working at the entry level for the prominent House of Rothchilds at the tender age of fourteen, working his way up to positions in Frankfort and Naples then becoming their American representative in New York in 1837. His time in America proved fruitful; he advanced in his position and entered high society, became an American citizen and married the daughter of Commodore Matthew Perry of Newport, Rhode Island. He entered politics as consul general of Austria at New York in 1844; he resigned this position six years later in protest of Austria's political position against Hungary. In 1853 he served at The Hague, first as Charge-de Affaires then as the resident American Minister. He returned to the United States in 1858 and resumed his lucrative career in banking and politics, which took him to the Democratic National Convention as a delegate in support of Stephen Douglas in 1860. He was later named Chairman of the democratic National Committee and was a very strong supporter of the Union during the Civil War. He used his considerable influence in the banking trade to sway opinions of merchants in England and France to the Union cause. He remained as chairman of the National Democratic Committee until 8 years prior to his death. In 1867 the first "Belmont Stakes" horse race took place in Jerome Park, New York. Older than both the Kentucky Derby as well as the Preakness Stakes race, the grueling endurance run remains a prestigious event to this day and a permanent jewel in horse racing's "Triple Crown." His sons, August Belmont (the Younger) and Perry Belmont were pillars of political and financial society with the former following much in his fathers footsteps and the latter studying law and serving in the United States Congress.
Financier. Born in Alzei, Rhensih, Prussia he started his banking career early by working at the entry level for the prominent House of Rothchilds at the tender age of fourteen, working his way up to positions in Frankfort and Naples then becoming their American representative in New York in 1837. His time in America proved fruitful; he advanced in his position and entered high society, became an American citizen and married the daughter of Commodore Matthew Perry of Newport, Rhode Island. He entered politics as consul general of Austria at New York in 1844; he resigned this position six years later in protest of Austria's political position against Hungary. In 1853 he served at The Hague, first as Charge-de Affaires then as the resident American Minister. He returned to the United States in 1858 and resumed his lucrative career in banking and politics, which took him to the Democratic National Convention as a delegate in support of Stephen Douglas in 1860. He was later named Chairman of the democratic National Committee and was a very strong supporter of the Union during the Civil War. He used his considerable influence in the banking trade to sway opinions of merchants in England and France to the Union cause. He remained as chairman of the National Democratic Committee until 8 years prior to his death. In 1867 the first "Belmont Stakes" horse race took place in Jerome Park, New York. Older than both the Kentucky Derby as well as the Preakness Stakes race, the grueling endurance run remains a prestigious event to this day and a permanent jewel in horse racing's "Triple Crown." His sons, August Belmont (the Younger) and Perry Belmont were pillars of political and financial society with the former following much in his fathers footsteps and the latter studying law and serving in the United States Congress.

Bio by: R. Digati



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Apr 25, 1998
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76/august-belmont: accessed ), memorial page for August “The Elder” Belmont (2 Dec 1816–24 Nov 1890), Find a Grave Memorial ID 76, citing Island Cemetery, Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.