Theodore Roosevelt Sr. was an American businessman and philanthropist who was born on September 22, 1831, in New York City, and died on February 9, 1878. He was the youngest of Cornelius Van Schaack Roosevelt and Margaret Barnhill’s five sons. Roosevelt was a seventh-generation Dutch New Yorker, and he was a participant in the Roosevelt family business of plate-glass importing, Roosevelt & Son. He was married to Martha Bulloch on December 22, 1853, at Bulloch Hall in Roswell, Georgia, and they had four children, each of whom had a nickname: Anna (“Bamie”), Theodore (“Teedie”), Elliott (“Ellie”), and Corinne (“Conie”). Theodore Sr. was also the grandfather of Eleanor Roosevelt, Elliott’s daughter.
Roosevelt was a noted New York City philanthropist, involved in a variety of charity work, including the Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and a Newsboys Lodging Home. He was a founder of the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the New York Orthopedic Hospital. Additionally, he helped found the New York City Children’s Aid Society. He was described by one historian as a man of both “good works and good times.”
Roosevelt Sr. was an active supporter of the Union during the Civil War. He was one of the Charter Members of the Union League Club, which was founded to promote the Northern cause. During the war, he and two friends, William E. Dodge, Jr. and Theodore B. Bronson, drew up an Allotment System, which amounted to a soldier’s payroll deduction program to support families back home. It was perhaps because of Martha’s active support of the Confederate Army that Theodore Sr. hired a substitute (Abraham Graff) to fulfill his draft obligation in the Army of the Potomac.
To combat Teedie’s poor physical condition, Theodore Sr. encouraged the young Roosevelt to take up exercise. To deal with bullies, he started boxing lessons. Two trips abroad had a permanent impact: family tours of Europe in 1869 and 1870, and of the Middle East 1872 to 1873.
As a young adult, Theodore frequently accompanied his older brother Silas to the Philadelphia home of Dr. Hilborne West, where he was captivated by Susan Ann Elliott West’s animated stories about the American South. In 1850, Theodore accompanied the couple to Bulloch Hall in Roswell, Georgia. During the excursion, Theodore met his future bride, Martha “Mittie” Bulloch, for the first time. Due in large part to his reserved manner and subsequent European travels, a romantic relationship did not blossom until Mittie’s 1853 visit to Philadelphia. Following the couple’s marriage, the newlyweds returned to Manhattan, where they lived with Theodore’s parents until their own home was built.
Theodore Sr.’s influence on his son Theodore Jr. was tremendous, and in adulthood, the younger Roosevelt wrote about his father in his autobiography, describing him as the best man he ever knew. Theodore Sr. combined strength and courage with gentleness, tenderness, and great unselfishness. He encouraged his son to be both decent and manly and to prepare to do the rough work of the world.
In October 1877, Theodore Sr. was nominated by President Rutherford Hayes to the position of Collector of Customs at the Port of New York. However, Roosevelt lost the nomination to Chester A. Arthur, and he wrote to his son at Harvard “a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders.” As the process dragged on, Roosevelt started experiencing severe stomach cramps caused by an ulcer, which eventually led to him being bedridden.
Despite the setback, Roosevelt continued to work tirelessly for the Republican Party and helped Arthur to win the presidential election in 1880. In 1881, after Arthur was elected, he appointed Roosevelt as Civil Service Commissioner, a position that was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. In this role, Roosevelt made significant changes to the civil service system, ensuring that merit and competence were the primary criteria for employment in government positions, rather than political connections or personal favoritism. His reforms earned him a reputation as a fearless crusader against government corruption and helped to establish his legacy as a champion of progressive reform.
Theodore Sr. passed away on February 9, 1878, at the age of 46 after battling an excruciating gastrointestinal tumor that made it impossible for him to eat for months. Despite the severe pain and agony, he chose to keep the extent of his illness a secret from his son, who was away studying at Harvard. In the final days of his life, Theodore Jr. was informed of his father’s condition and rushed to New York from Cambridge. However, despite his best efforts, he arrived a few hours after his father had passed away.
Roosevelt’s legacy extended beyond his family, with many of his philanthropic endeavors leaving a lasting impact on New York City. The New York Orthopedic Hospital that he founded in memory of his daughter Bamie, who suffered from a spinal deformity, still operates today, providing world-class care for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, both of which he helped establish, remain world-renowned cultural institutions.
In addition to his charitable work, Roosevelt was also an advocate for social reform, particularly in the areas of children’s welfare and animal protection. He was involved in the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and on Sundays, he taught a mission class.
Despite his short life, Roosevelt made a significant impact on his family, his community, and his country. His influence on his son, Theodore Roosevelt, would be immeasurable, with the younger Roosevelt following in his father’s footsteps as a philanthropist, social reformer, and advocate for the environment.
In his autobiography, Theodore Roosevelt described his father as a man of great strength and courage, with a heart filled with gentleness for those who needed help or protection. This description is a testament to the impact that Theodore Roosevelt Sr. had on his son, and on the world at large. Though he passed away at a young age, his legacy endures, a testament to his dedication to philanthropy, social reform, and his family.
In many ways, Roosevelt Sr. embodied the ideals of the American Dream: through hard work, dedication, and perseverance, he achieved great success in business and in his personal life. But perhaps more importantly, he used that success to make a difference in the lives of others, through his charitable work and his advocacy for social reform. His legacy serves as a reminder of the power of one individual to make a difference in the world, and his influence can still be felt today, more than a century after his passing.
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