Rice, William Marsh, 1816-1900

The life of William Marsh Rice -- cotton merchant, realtor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur extraordinaire -- is intimately connected with the early history and development of the city of Houston, his involvement in Houston's civic life spanning a period of some sixty years. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1816, the enterprising young Rice moved to Houston in 1839 attracted by the wide-open possibilities of the young city, which had been founded only three years before. For the next twenty-five years, Houston served both as Rice's home and as a base for his numerous business interests. Even after Rice moved to New York in 1865, he remained deeply involved with Houston for he continued to maintain business ties with the city and, together with his wife, he made almost annual visits to the city until 1897. In 1891, nine years before his death, Rice completed the formulation of plans for his greatest legacy to Houston, his provisions for the founding of Rice Institute.