William Wagner (philanthropist)

William Wagner (1796–1885) was a gentleman scientist, philanthropist, and merchant from Pennsylvania who founded the Wagner Free Institute of Science. Wagner served as a Whig member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 1st district from 1883 to 1884.

William Wagner
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 1st district
In office
1883–1884
Preceded byGeorge Handy Smith
Succeeded byGeorge Augustus Vare
Personal details
Born1796
Died1885
Political partyWhig

Early life

Wagner was born in 1796.[1] From a young age, he aspired to be a scientist.[2]

Career

In 1814, Wagner became a counting house clerk for Stephen Girard. But his love for the natural sciences persisted, and in 1815, he became a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.[3] During this time, was influenced by Stephen Girard's philanthropic efforts, particularly his posthumous founding of Girard College. Though Wagner's wealth was a small fraction of Girard's, he aimed to benefit the Philadelphia community.

In 1855, Wagner founded the Wagner Free Institute of Science[1], where he offered a view of his varied specimens collection as well as free lectures for all people on scientific topics.

During his and his second wife Louisa's two year honeymoon across Europe, they visited various natural history museums including the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. Wagner found that he often had to provide a reference to view many of the museums in Europe. Though he had no trouble providing such a reference, Wagner considered this concept unfair and sought to create a natural sciences museum that would be for all people regardless of gender or financial means. The building was erected in 1865, and Wagner remained active with the Institute until his death in 1875.[4] The board of directors then passed on the directorship to noted Philadelphia scientist and Academy member Joseph Leidy[5]

He was elected as a Whig member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 1st district and served from 1883 to 1884.[6]

Personal life

Wagner's second wife was Louisa Binney. He died in 1885 at the age of 89.[4] Wagner is interred at the West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.[7]

References
  1. "Our Founder". wagnerfreeinstitute.org. Retrieved September 18, 2019.(William Wagner (1796-1885)
  2. "Wagner Free Institute of Science". Philadelphia Reflections.
  3. Garman, Emma (1941). "History of the Wagner Free Institute of Science and its Contributions to Education". Temple University Dissertations.
  4. Glassman, Susan; Bolt, Eugene (1990). "Wagner Free Institute of Science". National Register of Historic Places.
  5. Glassman, Susan; Bolt, Eugene (1990). "Wagner Free Institute of Science". National Register of Historic Places.
  6. "William Wagner". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  7. "William Wagner". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
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