Walters, Henry, 1848-1931

Henry Walters (b. Sept. 26, 1848–d.Nov. 30, 1931, New York City, NY) was an American art collector and philanthropist. He was born to a wealthy family; his father, William Thompson Walters, (1820-1894), founded the railroad, Atlantic Coast Line Company. After graduating from Georgetown University in 1869, Walters moved to Wilmington, NC to be general manager of Atlantic Coast Line Company in 1889. After his father's death, he was elected president of the Atlantic Coast Line Company and transferred the line's headquarters to New York. In 1902, he took control of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

He married Sarah Jones in 1922 in New York City; both were avid art collectors. When he father died, he bequeathed his art collection to his son. Walters bought the three houses adjoining the property owned by his father in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore in order to house and display the full collection in 1900. In 1909 the collection was opened to the public as the Walters Art Gallery; after his death in 1931, Walters left building and collection to the city of Baltimore.