Temple Bowdoin (July 14, 1863 – December 2, 1914) was an American businessman. While an associate of
J.P. Morgan & Company, he was elected a member of the
New York Stock Exchange in 1909.[1]
Early life and education
He was born at Wolfert's Dell,
Irvington,
New York. He was the son of Julia Irving (
née Grinnell) Bowdoin (1838–1915) and George Sullivan Bowdoin (1833–1913).[2][3] His father was a banker who was a partner in
Drexel, Morgan & Co. and a direct descendant of
James Bowdoin, 2nd
Governor of Massachusetts and namesake of
Bowdoin College, founded by his son
James Bowdoin III.[4][5] His siblings were Fanny Hamilton Bowdoin (1866–1894),[6] who married Daniel Parish Kingsford (1858–1949),[7] and Edith Grinnell Bowdoin (1869–1943).[8]
After college, Bowdoin spent several years traveling and then entered the banking business, clerking as a lawyer for four years at
Winslow, Lanier & Co.[10][9] He joined J. P. Morgan & Co. in January 1891 and, two years later, was made a partner and put in charge of monitoring the firm's books, which he did until his death in 1914.[11]
He was in charge of the accounting business of J.P. Morgan & Company. Bowdoin was connected to Morgan for 25 years and a partner for 15 years.[1] He was a director of the Niagara Development Company,
Niagara Falls Power Company, and the Niagara Junction Railway Company.[12][13]
In his will, he left all the employees of Morgan & Co. in New York and of Drexel & Co. in Philadelphia one month's salary, and those who had been in his personal service for a year or more, one year's salary.[14]
On April 4, 1894, he was married to Helen Parish Kingsford (1863–1912).[17][18] She was the daughter of Mary P. and John J. Kingsford of
London,
England,[17] and the sister of Bowdoin's brother-in-law.[19] Together, they were the parents of:
Fanny Kingsford Bowdoin (1895–1899), who died young.[19]
John Temple Bowdoin (1900–1902), who also died young.[19]
His wife died on August 9, 1912. Bowdoin died at his home at 104 East 37th St.[1] on December 2, 1914, following an operation for an intestinal disorder.[22] J.P. Morgan & Company closed for a time on the day of his death, out of respect. He was survived by a son, George Temple Bowdoin, then a student at
Groton School.[1] His estate was valued at $6,187,708, the bulk of which was left to his son.[23] His son was also heir to his grandmother's estate upon her death in 1915.[24]