George Emlen Roosevelt

Who was George Emlen Roosevelt?

George Emlen Roosevelt a banker and philanthropist, was a first cousin once-removed of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and one of the most prominent railroad financiers of his day, involved in no fewer than 14 railroad reorganizations. He also held directorships in several important companies, including the Morgan-controlled Guaranty Trust Company, the Chemical Bank, and the Bank for Savings in New York.

In 1908, George Emlen became a member of the family banking firm Roosevelt & Son. In January 1934, after the passage of FDR's Banking Act of 1933, the firm was split into three individual units: Roosevelt & Son, with which George Roosevelt remained as a senior partner, Dick & Merle-Smith, and Roosevelt & Weingold.

Mr. Roosevelt was a significant New York City philanthropist, serving as President and Director of the Chapin School, Vice-President of the Roosevelt Hospital, the New York Dispensary and New York University. Through the 1929–1935 period, he was President of the Metropolitan Club of New York, of which his father had been a Governor and Charter Member.

He was a graduate of St. Mark's School, class of 1905, and Harvard University, class of 1909. Roosevelt was a trustee of New York University for 35 years, the last 12 as chairman.