John Gerard Coster (August 1762 – August 8, 1844) was a Dutch-American merchant who served as president of the
Bank of the Manhattan Company.
Early life
Coster was born in August 1762 in
Haarlem,
Holland. He was a son of John Henry Coster (d. 1776) and Anna Catherine (
née Vienecke).[1]
He was educated to be a physician under the tutelage of his brother Haro who was a well-know physician in the
British Navy.[2]
Career
Washington Hall 1809-1844
After briefly living in
Demerara in the
West Indies,[3] Coster came to the United States from
Haarlem in the Netherlands shortly after the
Revolutionary War and founded the family fortune with his brother through the mercantile firm, "Henry A. & John G. Coster".[4] They became owners of numerous vessels and traded with the East and West Indies, and exported American commodities to Europe.[4]
In 1809, Coster financed the building of
Washington Hall, a hotel, banquet hall, and restaurant that served as an early meeting place and headquarters for the
Washington Benevolent Society, a semi-secret association that was an electoral arm of the
Federalist Party.[5]
In 1813, he was made a director of
Bank of the Manhattan Company, which had been founded by
Aaron Burr in 1799.[4] In 1825, Coster was made president of the Manhattan Company, succeeding Henry Remsen upon his death. Coster was also a director of the Phoenix Insurance Company for many years.[6]
Personal life
Coster was married to Catherine Margaret Holsman (
c. 1778–1847).[1] Together, they lived in a house which he built at 539 Broadway, north of
Canal Street, which was considered "one of the finest residences in New York."[4] It was built by two of the most well-known architects of the day, Alexander Jackson David and Ithiel Town.[7] They were the parents of twelve children, many of whom married into many prominent families including the
Schermerhorns and
Heckshers.,[4] including:[8]
John Henry Coster, who married Adeline Boardman.[1]
Maria Margaret Coster (1798–1835), who married Edwin Upshur Berryman.[1] Maria died the night of the great fire in NYC. Her husband died a few years later. Their orphaned daughters lived with Henry Coster and the boys moved to KY.
Daniel Joachim Coster (b.1804), who married Julia DeLancey (1806–1890), a daughter of Oliver DeLancey and great grand-daughter of
Stephen Delancey.[9]
Gerard Holsman Coster (b. 1808), who married Matilda Prime, a daughter of banker
Nathaniel Prime.[1]
Through his son Daniel, he was a grandfather of
Harry Coster, an American clubman who was prominent in New York Society during the
Gilded Age.[12]
Through his daughter Julia, he was a grandfather of Henrietta Reubell (
c. 1849–1924),[13] who was a prominent figure in Paris society known for hosting a lively salon at her apartment at 42 avenue Gabriel, including
James McNeill Whistler,
Oscar Wilde,
Edith Wharton, and
Henry James.[14]