William Russell Grace: Good Blend of Business and Politics

William Russell Grace was an Irish-born American businessman and politician. He founded the W.R. Grace & Company and became New York City’s first Roman Catholic mayor.

Grace was born on May 10, 1832 in Ballylinan, County Laois, Ireland. He grew up in Rivertown, just off the suburbs of Cove of Cork. He married Lillius Gilchrist on September 11, 1859. Her father owned a shipbuilding business in Thomaston. Grace and Gilchrist had eleven children.

Grace’s father, James, moved to Callao, Peru in 1851 together with his family. He went there with the desire to establish an Irish agricultural community. James Grace decided to go back home later but William decided to stay. He worked as a ship chandler at John Bryce & Co. the company became Bryce, Grace & Company in 1854 and Grace Brothers & Co. in 1865. The company eventually became W.R. Grace & Company.

Grace was a known opposition to Tammany Hall. In 1880, he was elected to be the mayor of New York City. He led some reforms in the government such as attacking scandals involving the police, breaking up of Louisiana Lottery, reduction of tax rates, and stopped organized vices. He was elected for the second term in 1884. It was during his second term as New York City mayor when France gave the Statue of Liberty as gift to the city.

According to The New York Times, “'even in this country of self-made men, of great business houses, and of great fortunes, the career of ex-Mayor William R. Grace was a conspicuous one. He developed markets, he established transportation lines, he embarked in mercantile ventures, and directed them with such skill that while he was building up a personal fortune he was also contributing to the expansion of this country and of other countries. Whenever he took an active part in politics, it was as a man of sound principles working in behalf of honesty and efficiency in public administration.”

During the famine that struck Ireland in the late 1870s, Grace led a delegation of volunteers that brought relief goods via the steamship Constellation. Grace and his brother Michael also established the Grace Institute to educate immigrant women.