Palmer, Courtlandt

Born: 1800-11-11 Connecticut

Died: 1874-05-10 New York, New York

Flourished: New York, New York

Courtlandt Palmer was a prominent New York City merchant, businessman, real estate investor, and railroad executive. Born in Stonington, Connecticut, Palmer moved to New York City at the age of eighteen. Securing employment at his brother's hardware store, Palmer worked at the store until he was twenty-years of age, when he bought stock and opened his own establishment. Entering into partnership with the firm of Stark & Whiting, Palmer expanded his operation in New York City and opened a branch location in New Orleans. The Panic of 1837 hit the business hard, but Palmer emerged with a small amount of capital, which he invested in real estate. Thanks to judicious purchases, Palmer became a wealthy man, owning valuable real estate in both New York City and the American West. From 1844 to 1848, he served as president of the Stonington & Providence Railroad. He was a founder and director of the Safe Deposit Company and a director of the Mutual Benefit and Trust Company. In 1860, he was working as an insurance agent and owned real property valued at $5,000 and had a personal estate of $10,000.

Palmer married twice. In 1824, he wed Eliza Thurston. Eliza Thurston Palmer died in 1828; the couple had no children. In 1832, he married Mary Ann Suydam, with whom he had four children.

Henry Hall, ed., America's Successful Men of Affairs (New York: New York Tribune, 1895), 1:493; New-York Tribune (NY), 10 April 1867, 5:5; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Ward 15, New York, New York, NY, 92.