Page 124 - Bonhams Passkon and Philanthropy MET Mjuseum March 2024 Asia Week

Fig. 1. John Stewart Kennedy
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stewart_Kennedy

John Stewart Kennedy (1830-1909)

John Stewart Kennedy (1830-1909) was born in Blantyre, member of New York society, was involved in numerous clubs and
Lanarkshire, Scotland and was educated in the public schools boards, and starting in the 1890s, was a prolific philanthropist
of Glasgow. His father’s circumstances made it impossible for to educational, medical, and Presbyterian organizations, as well
him to contemplate a college education and thus at the tender as to other charitable causes. At the time of his death he had
age of thirteen he began his working life as a clerk in a shipping accumulated the extraordinary sum of $67 million. Of this fortune,
office before beginning his career at the Mossend Iron & Coal he donated $30 million, including bequests of $2.5 million each
Company, where he was a salesman from 1847 to 1850. In to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Columbia University, the New
1850, the London-based firm William H. Bird & Company hired York Public Library, the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions,
Kennedy to become its first representative in the United States the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, and the Presbyterian
and Canada. From that point forward, aside from a short stint in Hospital of New York City, as well as designating substantial gifts
Glasgow (1852-1856), Kennedy made New York his home. In 1856, to other universities and organizations. He left $13 million to his
Kennedy formed a partnership with M.K. Jesup & Company and widow.
twelve years later he founded J.S. Kennedy & Company, a bank
which was heavily involved with the railroad sector. Several of his She, like her husband, was a silent benefactor during her lifetime,
professional endeavors leveraged his deep ties in this industry for giving to many religious or educational institutions. She was the
the benefit of firms in his native Scotland. Through his competence daughter of Cornelius Baker, one of the founders of New York
and professional connections, Kennedy became a leading University, another institution that she liberally supported.

122 | BONHAMS