Leonard Jerome

Leonard Walter Jerome ( born November 3, 1817 in Pompey, New York, † March 3, 1891 in Brighton, England) was an American businessman.

Life and work

Jerome was born in 1817 as son of Isaac Jerome, the descendants of Huguenot immigrants from France, and his wife Aurora Murray. After successfully completing his studies in law at Union College opened Jerome a law firm in Rochester, New York.

Later he moved to New York City, where he repeatedly earned huge wealth through stock market speculation and again lost, which is why he eventually the nickname "The King of Wall Street" ( "King of Wall Street" ) was awarded. In addition to his speculations on the New York Stock Exchange investments in various railway companies Jerome were the main source of income.

As a lover of the fine arts, he founded the " American Academy of Music ," he cried as a friend of the sport together with his friend the railroad millionaire William Kissam Vanderbilt the "American Jockey Club" in life. He also was named after him racetrack " Jerome Park Racetrack " in the Bronx found, was held on the 1867 the first " Velmont Stakes " race. He later founded the " Coney Iceland Jockey Club" who built in 1884 the " Sheepshead Bay " race track.

Jerome died in 1891 during a stay in England. His body was interred in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

In New York City a street in Brooklyn ( " Jerome Avenue " ) and a street in the Bronx ( also " Jerome Avenue " ) are named after him. There used to be in the Bronx also a Jerome Park and the Jerome Park Reservoir. In addition, the line 4 of the New York Transit Railway " Lexington Avenue Jerome Avenue Express ", named partially after Jerome.

Family and descendants

From Jerome's 1849 closed marriage with Clara Hall ( 1825-1895 ), three daughters were born. The second oldest of them, Jennie Jerome, married the British aristocrats son Randolph Churchill, the second son of John Spencer - Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough. From this connection were two sons, Jerome's grandson, shows: The future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, whose third first name - Leonard - reminiscent of his grandfather, and John Strange Spencer-Churchill.

Jerome's daughter Clara married the businessman Moreton Frewen. This marriage came from the sculptress Clare Sheridan. Jerome's daughter Leonie married the Irish baronet Sir John Leslie, 2nd Bt ( 1857-1944 ). This marriage produced four sons, including the diplomat Shane Leslie.

• Entrepreneur
• Americans
• Born in 1817
• Died in 1891
• Man