William Lukens Elkins

William Lukens Elkins
Elkins in 1899
Born	(1832-05-02)May 2, 1832 Wheeling, Virginia, U.S.
Died	November 7, 1903(1903-11-07) (aged 71) Elkins Estate, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting place	Laurel Hill Cemetery
Occupation(s)	Businessman, investor, art collector
Board member of	Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. Pennsylvania Railroad Co. United Gas Improvement Co. Metropolitan Street Railway Co. of New York Commercial Trust Company Land Title & Trust Co. American Surety Company of New York International Navigation Co. Philadelphia & Erie Co. Consolidated Traction Company of New Jersey Edison Electric Light Co. Pennsylvania Globe Gas Light Co. Consolidated Traction Company of Pittsburgh Continental Tobacco Company Philadelphia Electric Co. Electric Company of America Virginia & Charleston Railway Co. American Air Power Co. Electric Storage Battery Co. New England Gas & Coke Co. Asphalt Company of America
Spouse	Maria Louise Broomall
Children	4, including Eleanor
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William Lukens Elkins (May 2, 1832 – November 7, 1903) was an American businessman and art collector. He began his working career as a grocer in Philadelphia and became a business tycoon with financial interests in oil, natural gas and transportation. He was one of the first to convert oil to gasoline and became a major shareholder in Standard Oil. He partnered with Peter Widener to found the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company and developed streetcar and railway systems throughout several major cities in the United States. He founded the United Gas Improvement Company and was a member of the board of directors of 24 companies. He was a collector of art and filled his Elkins Estate with over 132 paintings. His estate was valued at $25 million at the time of his death.