Martin was born on December 18, 1841, in
Albany, New York.[1] He was the son of Henry Hull Martin (1809–1886) and Anna Townsend Martin (1815–1866).[2] His siblings included
Frederick Townsend Martin (1849–1914), writer and advocate for the poor,[3][4][5] and Henry Townsend Martin (d. 1915).[6]
His maternal grandfather was
Solomon Townsend, a prominent merchant who was from an old Albany family that was related to the
Long Island Townsends. His father was a prominent banker and merchant and the family was involved in Albany society.[2][7] His ancestor, John Martin, accompanied
Sir Francis Drake in his
famous voyage around the world in 1580.[5]
In 1884, Martin leased Balmacaan, a well known game preserve in parish of
Urguhart,
Inverness-shireScotland, a mile from
Drumnadrochit, from
Lady Seafield.[5] From that point on, they generally lived there except for a few months, generally during the Winters, they spent in New York. Martin was a member of the
Union Club.[8]
In January 1885, the Martins gave a ball for the "
Four Hundred" invited guests at their residence, which was considered, with the exception of the Vanderbilt "fancy dress ball of 1883, " the most unique and beautiful entertainment ever enjoyed by the members of New York Society.[9] They gave another ball, on February 8, 1890, for 300 friends at
Delmonico's followed by a
cotillion.[9]
When his daughter married the
Earl of Craven in 1893, the press reported that: "The British lion captured another American prize yesterday, and $1,000,000 more of Yankee money has gone to swell English exchequers."[10]
On February 10, 1897, the Bradley Martins threw their most famous ball, the
Bradley-Martincostume ball at the
Waldorf Hotel.[11][12] His wife organized the ball, intending it to be "the greatest party in the history of the city".[13] 800 of New York's elite Society spent about $400,000 imitating kings and queens. It has been called "The most ostentatious party in US history."[14]
The Bradley-Martins stated that their goal was to create an economic stimulus for New York City,[15] which was at the end of an economic slump which began in 1873 and included the
Panic of 1893.[citation needed] Many prominent preachers and writers argued over the propriety of a party that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.[16] In the end, the ball was judged a social triumph but negative publicity.[9][17]
Personal life
Martin met his future wife,
Cornelia Sherman (1843–1920),[18] at the wedding of
Emily Vanderbilt, second daughter of
William H. Vanderbilt, to William Sloane, where she was one of Vanderbilt's bridesmaids. The couple courted, were soon engaged, and were married about a year later. Cornelia was the only child and heir of Isaac Sherman (d. 1881), a retired merchant who lived on West Twentieth Street in New York and was close friends with
Abraham Lincoln.[19][20] Together, they were the parents of three children:
Sherman Martin (1869–1894), who died aged 25 in New York of
apoplexy, but rumors at the time indicated it was suicide.[21] He was married to Annie Nunn, an English girl.[22][23]
Bradley Martin, Jr. (1873–1963),[24] who married Helen Margaret Phipps (1876-1934),[25] a daughter of
Henry Phipps, Jr., in 1904.[26]
Martin died of
influenza, which developed into
pneumonia, on February 5, 1913, in
London, England.[8] At his death, his New York estate was valued at $1,277,341. The foreign estate was not valued as Martin took up permanent residence in England in 1899.[29] His widow died at her country residence at
Hamstead Marshall, England on October 24, 1920.[18] The Martin estate, which was left equally to his daughter and living son, was valued at $4,412,404 upon his wife's death in 1920.[30]
^"Frederick Townsend Martin".
Encyclopedia Americana. 1919. Retrieved 2008-12-14. Frederick Townsend Martin (b. 1849 in Albany NY; d. 1914 in London); graduated from Albany Law School; colonel in the New York National Guard; his writings included "The Passing of the Idle Rich" (1911) and "My Personal Experiences of Meeting Snobs" (1911). His older brother Bradley Martin (1841-1913) was a prominent banker.