William Henry Aspinwall

William Henry Aspinwall
Portrait of William Henry Aspinwall, by Daniel Huntington, 1871
Born(1807-12-16)December 16, 1807
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 1875(1875-01-18) (aged 67)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Resting placeGreen-Wood Cemetery
OccupationShipping magnate
Organization(s)Howland & Aspinwall
Pacific Mail Steamship Company
Panama Canal Railway
Spouse
Anna Lloyd Breck
​
​
(m. 1830)​
ChildrenLloyd Aspinwall
Parent(s)John Aspinwall
Susan Howland

William Henry Aspinwall (December 16, 1807 – January 18, 1875)[1] was a prominent American businessman who was a partner in the merchant firm of Howland & Aspinwall and was a co-founder of both the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and Panama Canal Railway companies which revolutionized the migration of goods and people to the Western coast of the United States.[2]

Aspinwall was descended from, and related to, many prominent American families including the Roosevelts, Howlands, and Aspinwalls, that were heavily involved in the merchant trade business and politics, wielding vast power and ensuring wealth for generations.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference WHAObit1875 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Levy, D.A. (February 14, 2004). "William Henry Aspinwall". The Maritime Heritage Project. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference WhittelseyBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).