Bradley Martin

Bradley Martin (December 18, 1841 – February 5, 1913) was an American socialite known for giving the Bradley-Martin costume ball at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City on the night of February 10, 1897.

Bradley Martin
Born(1841-12-18)December 18, 1841
Albany, New York
DiedFebruary 5, 1913(1913-02-05) (aged 71)
London, England
Alma materUnion University
Spouse(s)Cornelia Sherman
Children3
Parent(s)Henry Hull Martin
Anna Townsend
RelativesFrederick Townsend Martin (brother)
4th Earl of Craven (son-in-law)
5th Earl of Craven (grandson)

Early life

Martin was born on December 18, 1841 in Albany, New York.[1] He was the son of Henry Hull Martin (1809–1886) and Anna Townsend Martin (1815–1866).[2] His siblings included Frederick Townsend Martin (1849–1914), writer and advocate for the poor,[3][4][5] and Henry Townsend Martin (d. 1915).[6]

His maternal grandfather was Solomon Townsend, a prominent merchant who was from an old Albany family that was related to the Long Island Townsends. His father was a prominent banker and merchant and the family was involved in Albany society.[2][7] His ancestor, John Martin, accompanied Sir Francis Drake in his famous voyage around the world in 1580.[5]

Martin was educated at Union University and was a First lieutenant in the 93rd Regiment, National Guard of New York, part of the Union Army during the American Civil War.[8] He later served as aide-de-camp to Gov. Reuben Fenton.[8]

Society life

In 1884, Martin leased Balmacaan, a well known game preserve in parish of Urguhart, Inverness-shire Scotland, a mile from Drumnadrochit, from Lady Seafield.[5] From that point on, they generally lived there except for a few months, generally during the Winters, they spent in New York. Martin was a member of the Union Club.[8]

In January 1885, the Martins gave a ball for the "Four Hundred" invited guests at their residence, which was considered, with the exception of the Vanderbilt "fancy dress ball of 1883, " the most unique and beautiful entertainment ever enjoyed by the members of New York Society.[9] They gave another ball, on February 8, 1890, for 300 friends at Delmonico's followed by a cotillion.[9]

When his daughter married the Earl of Craven in 1893, the press reported that: "The British lion captured another American prize yesterday, and $1,000,000 more of Yankee money has gone to swell English exchequers."[10]

Bradley-Martin Ball
Main article: Bradley-Martin Ball

On February 10, 1897, the Bradley Martins threw their most famous ball, the Bradley-Martin costume ball at the Waldorf Hotel.[11][12] His wife organized the ball, intending it to be "the greatest party in the history of the city".[13] 800 of New York's elite Society spent about $400,000 imitating kings and queens. It has been called "The most ostentatious party in US history."[14]

The Bradley-Martin's stated that their goal was to create an economic stimulus for New York City,[15] which was at the end of an economic slump which began in 1873 and included the Panic of 1893. Many prominent preachers and writers argued over the propriety of a party that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.[16] In the end, the ball was judged a social triumph but negative publicity.[9][17]

Personal life
A Cameo of Cornelia Bradley-Martin dressed as Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, for the Ball.

Martin met his future wife, Cornelia Sherman (1843–1920),[18] at the wedding of Emily Vanderbilt, second daughter of William H. Vanderbilt, to William Sloane, where she was one of Vanderbilt's bridesmaids. The couple courted, were soon engaged, and were married about a year later. Cornelia was the only child and heir of Isaac Sherman (d. 1881), a retired merchant who lived on West Twentieth Street in New York and was close friends with Abraham Lincoln.[19][20] Together, they were the parents of three children:

Martin died of influenza, which developed into pneumonia, on February 5, 1913 in London, England.[8] At his death, his New York estate was valued at $1,277,341. The foreign estate was not valued as Martin took up permanent residence in England in 1899.[29] His widow died at her country residence at Hamstead Marshall, England on October 24, 1920.[18] The Martin estate, which was left equally to his daughter and living son, was valued at $4,412,404 upon his wife's death in 1920.[30]

Descendants

Through his daughter, he was the maternal grandfather of William George Bradley Craven, 5th Earl of Craven (1897–1932).[31]

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References
  1. "The Bradley Martins: Their Start and Career in New York Society". www.thehistorybox.com. The History Box. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  2. "Obituary. HENRY H. MARTIN". The New York Times. 19 March 1886. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  3. "Frederick Townsend Martin". Encyclopedia Americana. 1919. Retrieved 2008-12-14. Frederick Townsend Martin (b. 1849 in Albany NY; d. 1914 in London); graduated from Albany Law School; colonel in the New York National Guard; his writings included "The Passing of the Idle Rich" (1911) and "My Personal Experiences of Meeting Snobs" (1911). His older brother Bradley Martin (1841-1913) was a prominent banker.
  4. "New York Society Leader, Author, and Friend of the Poor a Victim of Heart Disease". The New York Times. March 9, 1914. Retrieved 2008-12-14. Frederick Townsend Martin died suddenly of heart failure at 2:30 o'clock this morning at the Hotel Berkeley, where he had been staying with his brother Howard T. Martin. The body will be sent to America.
  5. "F. T. Martin Dies Suddenly in London. New York Society Leader, Author, and Friend of the Poor a Victim of Heart Disease". The New York Times. 9 March 1914. Retrieved 2 January 2009. Frederick Townsend Martin died suddenly of heart failure at 2:30 oclock this morning at the Hotel Berkeley, where he had been staying with his brother Howard T. Martin. The body will be sent to America.
  6. "HENRY TOWNSEND MARTIN.; Brother of Late Bradley and F. T. Martin Dies in a Sanitarium". The New York Times. August 21, 1915. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  7. Townsend (1865), James C.; Townsend (1871), Hon. Martin I.; Townsend (1875), Charles Hervey; Smith (1904), Hon. Issac Townsend; Townsend (1909, Madme. Giovanni Tagliapietra), Margaret (1909). Townsend--Townshend | 1066-1909 | The History, Genealogy and Alliances of The English and American House of Townsend. New York. p. 97. ISBN 9785870930930. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  8. "BRADLEY MARTIN DIES IN LONDON; Former New York Society Leader a Victim of Pneumonia in His 72d Year. GAVE GREAT BALL IN 1897 Entertained During Shooting Season at Balmacaan, In Scotland -- Father-in-Law of Earl of Craven". The New York Times. 6 February 1913. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  9. "THE BRADLEY MARTIN FETE; The Waldorf Yesterday Given up to the Decorators and to Rehearsals of the Dances. THE SEARCH FOR HEIRLOOMS. All Outside Windows to be Boarded Up -- All the Spare Rooms Secured by the Guests -- Arrangements to Photograph the Costumes". The New York Times. 10 February 1897. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  10. "WEDDED IN GRANDEST STYLE; NUPTIALS OF MISS MARTIN AND THE EARL OF CRAVEN. Grace Church, Where the Marriage was Celebrated, Filled with Fashionable Peo- ple -- The Occasion Marred by the Break- ing In of the Outside Crowd -- Decora- tions in Lavish Profusion at Church and House -- A Hundred-Pound Wedding Cake -- Value of the Presents". The New York Times. 19 April 1893. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  11. "THE BRADLEY MARTIN BALL; A Wealth of Heirlooms in Antique Jewels and Rare Old Laces, to be Shown. PRICELESS FAMILY TREASURES. Dealers' Stocks and Household Stores Ransacked and Exhausted to Supply the Demand for Ornaments and Historical Accuracy". The New York Times. 9 February 1897. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  12. "The Bradley Martin Ball". collections.mcny.org. Museum of the City of New York. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  13. Wood, Jennifer M. (December 30, 2013). "The ten most over-the-top parties in New York City history". Time Out New York. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  14. Galante, Meredith; Lubin, Gus (November 6, 2012). "The Most Ostentatious Party In US History". Business Insider. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  15. Conlin, Joseph R. (2008). The American Past: A Survey of American History, Enhanced Edition. Cengage Learning. p. 468. ISBN 0495566225. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  16. Campbell, W. Joseph (2013). The Year That Defined American Journalism: 1897 and the Clash of Paradigms. Routledge. ISBN 9781135205058. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  17. Holland, Evangeline (30 March 2009). "The Bradley-Martin Ball". Edwardian Promenade. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  18. "MRS. BRADLEY MARTIN DIES IN ENGLAND; Was Hostess at Famous Waldorf Ball in 1897--Her Daughter the Countess of Craven". The New York Times. 25 October 1920. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  19. "ISAAC SHERMAN". The New York Times. January 23, 1881. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  20. "FUNERAL OF ISAAC SHERMAN". The New York Times. 26 January 1881. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  21. "SHERMAN MARTIN'S DEATH; He Walked to and From the Carriage and Expired in a Chair. TAKES TO THE HOTEL BY A STRANGER It Was a Well-Defined Case of Apoplexy, According to Dr. Lusk -- The Funeral to be Held This Morning". The New York Times. 24 December 1894. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  22. "SHERMAN MARTIN DEAD; Taken Suddenly Ill at the Morton House Friday Night. APOPLEXY OF THE BRAIN THE CAUSE He Was But Twenty-five Years Old -- Had Tried to Cure a Desire for Liquor -- A Surprise to Society People". The New York Times. 23 December 1894. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  23. "SHERMAN MARTIN BURIED IN GREENWOOD; Funeral Service in Grace Church -- Flowers from Relatives and Friends". The New York Times. 25 December 1894. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  24. Studios, Special To The New York Timesblackstone (4 June 1963). "Bradley Martin, 89, Financier And a Philanthropist Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  25. "DEATH TAKES WIFE OF BRADLEY MARTIN | New York Society Woman Is Victim of Appendicitis in Pasadena, Calif. | HENRY PHIPPS'S DAUGHTER | Father, Partner of Carnegie in Pioneer Steel Era, Gave Many. Millions to Charity". The New York Times. March 17, 1934. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  26. "MARTIN-PHIPPS WEDDING. Daughter of Henry Phipps Married to Bradley Martin, Jr". The New York Times. November 3, 1904. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  27. "COUNTESS OF CRAVEN". The New York Times. 24 May 1961. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  28. "EARL OF CRAVEN DROWNED IN SOLENT; Believed to Have Fallen Off His Yacht in the Fight While His Crew Were Asleep. MARRIED CORNELIA MARTIN A Member of the Royal Household, He Was Well Knownto Americans". The New York Times. 11 July 1921. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  29. "MARTIN'S NEW YORK ESTATE $1,277,341; Nothing Taxable, However, as Former Social Leader Called London Home". The New York Times. 9 May 1913. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  30. "Martin Estate Put at $4,412,404". The New York Times. 30 June 1921. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  31. Times, Special Cable To The Tfew York (17 September 1932). "EARL OF CRAVEN DIES IN PYRENEES; Grandson of the Late Bradley Martin of New York Was 35 Years Old. LOST A LEG IN WORLD WAR His Only Son, Viscount Uffington, a Youth of 16, Succeeds to the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
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