Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Whitney, William Collins

WHITNEY, WILLIAM COLLINS, an American capitalist; born in Conway, Mass., July 15, 1841; was graduated at Yale College in 1863, and at the Harvard Law School in 1865; studied law with Judge Abraham R. Lawrence in New York City, and was there admitted to the bar. He took an active part in the proceedings against the &ldquo;Tweed Ring&rdquo;; served as corporation counsel in 1875-1882; and was Secretary of the Navy in 1885-1889. For many years he was a large financial operator in New York City. He died in New York, Feb. 2, 1904.