Ambrose Kingsland

Ambrose Kingsland
1887 portrait by Daniel Huntington based on an earlier original.
71st Mayor of New York City
In office 1851–1853
Preceded by	Caleb Smith Woodhull
Succeeded by	Jacob Aaron Westervelt
Personal details
Born	May 24, 1804 New York City, New York
Died	October 13, 1878 (aged 74) New York City, New York

Ambrose Cornelius Kingsland (May 24, 1804 – October 13, 1878)^[1] was a wealthy sperm oil merchant who served as the 71st mayor of New York City from 1851 to 1853. In 1851 he initiated the legislation that eventually led to the building of Central Park.

Kingsland's home was at 114 Fifth Avenue (southwest corner at 17th Street), now the site of a Banana Republic store.

In 1864, Kingsland purchased Hunter Island, now in Pelham Bay Park, Bronx for $127,501.00. He later purchased a sizeable country home north of the city along the Hudson River in North Tarrytown, present day Sleepy Hollow, New York. His sale of this land to the early steam-engine automotive company, Stanley Steamer, helped open North Tarrytown's 20th century era as a major automotive factory town.

A waterfront park in the Westchester County suburb still bears Kingsland's name, as does Kingsland Avenue in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, which he helped survey. There is also a Kingsland Avenue in the Baychester section of the Bronx ^[2]

References

1. Caliendo, R.J. (2010). New York City Mayors. 1. Xlibris. p. 390. ISBN 9781450088152. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
2. source http://ragette.org/greenpoint%20architecture/historicdistrict/AIA%20text.htm

External links

• The Century in Times Square
• Purchase of Hunter Island
• "New York Songlines: 5th Avenue—guide to Fifth Avenue including site of Kingsland's house
• Ambrose Kingsland at Find a Grave