William Orton | |
---|---|
3rd Commissioner of Internal Revenue | |
In office March 11, 1869 – October 31, 1865 [1] | |
President | Andrew Johnson |
Preceded by | Joseph J. Lewis |
Succeeded by | Edward A. Rollins |
Personal details | |
Born | Cuba, New York | June 14, 1826
Died | April 22, 1878 New York City, New York | (aged 51)
Resting place | Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Sleepy Hollow, New York |
Political party | Republican [2] |
Spouse | Agnes J. Gillespie (m. 1852-1878, his death) |
Children | 8 |
Alma mater | New York State Normal School |
Occupation | Business executive (1847–1878) |
Known for | President, Western Union Telegraph Company, 1867–1878 |
William Orton (June 14, 1826 – April 22, 1878) was an American businessman who served as president of the Western Union Telegraph Company.
William Orton was born in Cuba, New York on June 14, 1826. [3] He was trained as a printer and worked on a newspaper in the village of Cuba. [4] He graduated from the State Normal School (now the State University of New York at Albany) in 1847, and received his certification as a teacher. [5]
He taught at a school in Cuba, and then moved to Geneva to become a clerk in a bookstore. [6] In 1852 Orton moved to Buffalo, where he became a partner in a publishing company called Derby, Orton & Co. [6]
In 1858 Orton moved to New York City to become a partner in another publishing company, Miller & Orton. [6] This firm went out of business two years later, with Orton moving to the bookselling and publishing firm of J. G. Gregory & Co. as managing clerk. [6]
A Republican and supporter of the Union during the American Civil War, Orton was elected to New York City's Common Council in 1860, and served one term. [7]
From 1862 to 1865 he was federal Collector of Revenue for the 6th district of New York. [8] In 1865 Orton was appointed Commissioner of Internal Revenue, but he served at this post in Washington, D.C. for only four months before resigning to resume his business career. [9] [10]
Orton was appointed president of the United States Telegraph Company in the fall of 1865. [11] When this company merged with Western Union in 1866 Orton was appointed Western Union's vice president. [12] He also studied law, and attained admission to the bar in 1867. [13] In 1867 Jeptha Wade resigned as president of Western Union, and Orton succeeded him. [14] In addition to his position at Western Union, Orton was president of the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company, [15] International Ocean Telegraph Company, and Atlantic and Southern Telegraph Company. [16]
In 1871 President Ulysses S. Grant offered the position of Collector of the Port of New York to John Augustus Griswold, who declined. [17] Grant then offered to nominate Orton, who also declined. [17] Griswold and Orton both recommended Chester A. Arthur, who received the appointment. [17]
Orton was a delegate to the 1872 and 1876 Republican National Conventions. [18]
He was active in the Episcopal Church, and served as a vestryman at New York City's Church of the Holy Apostles. [19]
Orton died at his home in New York City on April 22, 1878. [20] He was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York. [21] He was succeeded by Norvin Green as the head of Western Union. [22]
In 1852 Orton married Agnes J. Gillespie of Buffalo. [23] They were the parents of eight children: Jessie; Alice; William, Jr.; James; Agnes; M. Virginia; Robert; and Grosvenor. [23]
William Orton | |
---|---|
3rd Commissioner of Internal Revenue | |
In office March 11, 1869 – October 31, 1865 [1] | |
President | Andrew Johnson |
Preceded by | Joseph J. Lewis |
Succeeded by | Edward A. Rollins |
Personal details | |
Born | Cuba, New York | June 14, 1826
Died | April 22, 1878 New York City, New York | (aged 51)
Resting place | Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Sleepy Hollow, New York |
Political party | Republican [2] |
Spouse | Agnes J. Gillespie (m. 1852-1878, his death) |
Children | 8 |
Alma mater | New York State Normal School |
Occupation | Business executive (1847–1878) |
Known for | President, Western Union Telegraph Company, 1867–1878 |
William Orton (June 14, 1826 – April 22, 1878) was an American businessman who served as president of the Western Union Telegraph Company.
William Orton was born in Cuba, New York on June 14, 1826. [3] He was trained as a printer and worked on a newspaper in the village of Cuba. [4] He graduated from the State Normal School (now the State University of New York at Albany) in 1847, and received his certification as a teacher. [5]
He taught at a school in Cuba, and then moved to Geneva to become a clerk in a bookstore. [6] In 1852 Orton moved to Buffalo, where he became a partner in a publishing company called Derby, Orton & Co. [6]
In 1858 Orton moved to New York City to become a partner in another publishing company, Miller & Orton. [6] This firm went out of business two years later, with Orton moving to the bookselling and publishing firm of J. G. Gregory & Co. as managing clerk. [6]
A Republican and supporter of the Union during the American Civil War, Orton was elected to New York City's Common Council in 1860, and served one term. [7]
From 1862 to 1865 he was federal Collector of Revenue for the 6th district of New York. [8] In 1865 Orton was appointed Commissioner of Internal Revenue, but he served at this post in Washington, D.C. for only four months before resigning to resume his business career. [9] [10]
Orton was appointed president of the United States Telegraph Company in the fall of 1865. [11] When this company merged with Western Union in 1866 Orton was appointed Western Union's vice president. [12] He also studied law, and attained admission to the bar in 1867. [13] In 1867 Jeptha Wade resigned as president of Western Union, and Orton succeeded him. [14] In addition to his position at Western Union, Orton was president of the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company, [15] International Ocean Telegraph Company, and Atlantic and Southern Telegraph Company. [16]
In 1871 President Ulysses S. Grant offered the position of Collector of the Port of New York to John Augustus Griswold, who declined. [17] Grant then offered to nominate Orton, who also declined. [17] Griswold and Orton both recommended Chester A. Arthur, who received the appointment. [17]
Orton was a delegate to the 1872 and 1876 Republican National Conventions. [18]
He was active in the Episcopal Church, and served as a vestryman at New York City's Church of the Holy Apostles. [19]
Orton died at his home in New York City on April 22, 1878. [20] He was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York. [21] He was succeeded by Norvin Green as the head of Western Union. [22]
In 1852 Orton married Agnes J. Gillespie of Buffalo. [23] They were the parents of eight children: Jessie; Alice; William, Jr.; James; Agnes; M. Virginia; Robert; and Grosvenor. [23]