Brevoort, James Carson, 1818-1887

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James Brevoort was a contemporary of the Arctic explorer Charles Francis Hall (1821-1871) who led the United States Whaling and Franklin Search Expedition, 1860-1862.

From the guide to the James Brevoort collection, 1875, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)

The first members of the Brevoort family in America came from Holland prior to 1655 and soon thereafter settled in Bushwick, then a separate village that would eventually be annexed by the City of Brooklyn in 1855. After 20 years in Bushwick, the family purchased land in New York City (present-day Manhattan) where the family prospered. It wasn’t until 1845 that members of the Brevoort family moved back to Brooklyn.

Henry Brevoort (1747-1841) was a successful farmer whose lands lay just outside of the early city limits of New York. His estate consisted of 86 acres between 9th Street and 18th Street, bounded by Fifth Avenue on the west and the Bowery on the east, thus part of today's West Village. The opening of Broadway up to 23rd Street forced New York City street commissioners to create a dog-leg bend at 10th Street, as Brevoort was determined to prevent the disruption of his estate. Brevoort and son Henry, Jr. prevented the opening of 11th Street between Broadway and the Bowery in the 1830s and 1840s to prevent the destruction of the old family farm house.

Henry Brevoort, Jr. (1782-1848) was widely respected for his adventurous travels and artistic interests. He accompanied Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Northwest from 1803 to 1806 and spent a great deal of time in the North American wilderness working for John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company. He was equally at home and well received in salons throughout Europe during his travels abroad. Henry Brevoort, Jr. was a close friend of Washington Irving and was primarily responsible (along with Irving’s brother Ebenezer) for the publication of the American edition of Irving's The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. .

James Carson Brevoort (1818-1887), Henry Jr.'s son, was educated in Europe during his parents' travels. He graduated from Baron Fellenberg's school in Hofwyl, Switzerland and then earned a degree in civil engineering from the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in Paris. He served as Washington Irving's private secretary following Irving's appointment as United States Minister to Spain in 1842. Brevoort married Elizabeth Dorothea Lefferts in 1845 and moved to Brooklyn. There he managed the large land holdings of his father-in-law, Judge Leffert Lefferts. In Brooklyn, Brevoort gained renown for his scholarly interest and public service. He studied history, entomology, and ichthyology and also served for many years as a member of the Brooklyn Board of Education and the Board of Water Commissioners. Brevoort also helped to found the Long Island Historical Society (now the Brooklyn Historical Society) in 1863, served as its President for 10 years, and was a Director of the Society until his death.

James Carson Brevoort's only child, Henry L. Brevoort (1849-1895), followed his father's interest in engineering and became one of the country's foremost patent and invention lawyers, with a client list that included Westinghouse, Western Union, and the New York and Brooklyn Bridge Company. He was also a founder in 1890 of the Brevoort Savings Bank in Brooklyn.

From the guide to the Brevoort family papers, Bulk, 1828-1847, 1760-1879, (Brooklyn Historical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf James Brevoort collection, 1875 Scott Polar Research Institute
creatorOf Abadiano, Eufemio. [Miscellaneous catalogues of private libraries of Americana. : Pamphlet vol.]. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Quincy, Josiah, 1772-1864. Letter : Boston, to James Carson Brevoort, 18[49] Jan. 10. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
creatorOf Brevoort, James. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Brevoort family papers, Bulk, 1828-1847, 1760-1879 Center for Brooklyn History (2020-)
creatorOf Prescott, William Hickling, 1796-1859. Papers of William Hickling Prescott [manuscript], 1836-1858. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Commonplace book from the library of J. Carson Brevoort, undated New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf O'Callaghan, E. B. (Edmund Bailey), 1797-1880. Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan letter to J. Carson Brevoort [manuscript], 1863 Dec 11. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Trumbull, J. Hammond (James Hammond), 1821-1897. Letter, 1870 June 7, Hartford, Conn., to James Carson Brevoort, Brooklyn, New York. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Papers, 1760-1879. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf James Carson Brevoort letters and miscellany, 1864-1890 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Jay, John C. (John Clarkson), 1808-1891. Shells : miscellaneous plates. American Museum of Natural History
referencedIn LeConte, John L. (John Lawrence), 1825-1883. Papers, 1812-1897 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Kemble, Gouverneur, 1786-1875. Autograph letter signed : Cold Spring, to J. Carson Brevoort, 1858 Dec. 29. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Jones, Charles Colcock, 1831-1893. Charles Colcock Jones papers, 1880 and 1887. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Brevoort family family
associatedWith Brevoort family. family
associatedWith Brevoort, Henry L., 1849-1895 person
associatedWith Brevoort James Carson person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
correspondedWith Frisiani, Dr. person
associatedWith Hall Charles Francis 1821-1871 person
associatedWith Jay, John C. (John Clarkson), 1808-1891. person
correspondedWith Jones, Charles Colcock, 1831-1893. person
associatedWith Kemble, Gouverneur, 1786-1875. person
associatedWith LeConte, John L., (John Lawrence), 1825-1883 person
associatedWith Lefferts family family
associatedWith O'Callaghan, E. B. (Edmund Bailey), 1797-1880. person
associatedWith Prescott, William Hickling, 1796-1859. person
associatedWith Quincy, Josiah, 1772-1864. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Trumbull, J. Hammond (James Hammond), 1821-1897. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Manhattan (New York, N.Y.)
Eleventh Street (New York, N.Y.)
New Utrecht (New York, N.Y.)
New York (N.Y.)
West Village (New York, N.Y.)
Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)
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Birth 1818-07-10

Death 1887-12-07

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