William Collins Whitney

William Collins Whitney
31st United States Secretary of the Navy
In office
March 7, 1885 – March 4, 1889
PresidentGrover Cleveland
Preceded byWilliam E. Chandler
Succeeded byBenjamin F. Tracy
Personal details
Born(1841-07-05)July 5, 1841
Conway, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 1904(1904-02-02) (aged 62)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
(m. 1869; died 1893)
Edith Randolph
(m. 1896; died 1899)
Children5, including Harry, Pauline, William, Dorothy
RelativesJames Scollay Whitney (Father)
EducationWilliston Seminary
Yale University (BA)
Harvard University
Signature

William Collins Whitney (July 5, 1841 – February 2, 1904) was an American political leader and financier and a prominent member of the Whitney family. He served as Secretary of the Navy in the first administration of President Grover Cleveland from 1885 through 1889. A conservative reformer, he was considered a Bourbon Democrat.