Charles Oliver Iselin (June 8, 1854 – January 1, 1932) was an American banker and yachtsman who was captain of racing yachts that won the America's Cup three times.[1]

C. Oliver Iselin
BornJune 8, 1854
DiedJanuary 1, 1932(1932-01-01) (aged 77)
Glen Head, New York, U.S.
Resting placeWoodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn, Bronx, New York
Alma materColumbia Law School
Occupation(s)Banker, yachtsman, philanthropist
Spouses
Fannie Garner
(m. 1872; died 1890)
(m. 1894)
ChildrenNora Iselin
(1881-1939)
C. Oliver Iselin Jr.
(1890-1979)
William Goddard Iselin
(1903-1909)
Edith Hope Iselin Jones
(1905-2001)
Parent(s)Adrian Georg Iselin
Eleanora O'Donnell Iselin
RelativesAdrian Iselin Jr. (brother)
Columbus O'Donnell (grandfather)
AwardsAmerica's Cup Hall of Fame (1994)

Early life

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Iselin's estate home "All View" on Premium Point, New Rochelle, New York

Iselin was the son of Adrian Georg Iselin and Eleanora O Donnell Iselin. Eleanora O'Donnell was the great granddaughter of Columbus O'Donnell. His great-great-grandfather Isaac Iselin-Roulet came to America in 1801 from Basel, Switzerland,[2] where the Iselin's had been merchants, public officials, and military and professional men since the 14th century. Isaac amassed a large fortune in the importing business, and his descendants became private bankers and philanthropists in New York City and New Rochelle, New York.

Education

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He was educated at Columbia University, graduating in 1874 with a LL.B.[3]

Yachting

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Oliver was considered to be one of the greatest American yachtsmen of his time, participating in and winning six consecutive America's Cup races: 1887, 1893, 1895, 1899, 1901 and 1903.[4] He built a large breakwater next to his Premium Point, New Rochelle estate All View so that he could dock his yachts Defender, Reliance and Columbia safely at home.[5] In 1994 Oliver Iselin was inducted into the Herreshoff Marine Museum's America's Cup Hall of Fame.[6]

Personal life

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Iselin was first married to Fannie Garner (1861–1890) with whom he had a son, C. Oliver Jr. (1890–1979), who named his son, C. Oliver III (1927–2017).[7][8] After her death, he married Hope Goddard (1868–1970), who was the first woman ever to serve as part of the crew on an America's Cup yacht, in 1894.[9]

Iselin died on January 1, 1932, at Glen Head on Long Island.[1]

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References

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  1. ^ a b "C. OLIVER ISELIN, NOTED BANKER, DEAD; Member of Family of Financiers Succumbs at 78 After Illness of Three Years. WAS AN ABLE YACHTSMAN Served as Sailing Master In International America's Cup Races--Used Bold Tactics". The New York Times. January 2, 1932. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  2. ^ Mountjoy, Eileen. "Iselin Family". Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  3. ^ Columbia University. (1906). Catalogue of officers and graduates of Columbia university from the foundation of King's college in 1754. Columbia University. p. 547. OCLC 2187260.
  4. ^ "Did you know? Adrian Islein" New Rochelle Daily Voice
  5. ^ "New Rochelle, New York" Barbara Davis p. 49
  6. ^ "C. OLIVER ISELIN, 1994 INDUCTEE". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. January 1, 1994. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  7. ^ "C. Oliver Iselin Jr., Dairy Farmer". Washington Post. February 20, 1979. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  8. ^ "Long-Time Virginia Breeder and VTA Member, C. Oliver Iselin, III Passes Away". Virginia Thoroughbred Association. October 23, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  9. ^ "Mrs. Charles Iselin, Turf Figure And Social Leader, Dies at 102". The New York Times. April 6, 1970. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
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