18 Facts About Ambrose Kingsland

Ambrose Cornelius Kingsland was a wealthy sperm oil merchant who served as the 71st mayor of New York City from 1851 to 1853.

Ambrose Kingsland was the son of Cornelius Kingsland and Abigail Kingsland.

Ambrose Kingsland was a member of the old New Jersey Kingsland family who had for nearly 200 years lived in and around Belleville, New Jersey.

Ambrose Kingsland was the uncle of William M Kingsland, who owned 1026 Fifth Avenue.

Ambrose Kingsland held public office as the 71st mayor of New York City from 1851 to 1853, the first mayor to be elected to a two-year term.

Ambrose Kingsland was appointed a Commissioner of the Croton Aqueduct in 1848.

Ambrose Kingsland had little political experience and had not previously held elective office.

New Yorkers' apprehensions about the nation's growing disunity, and Ambrose Kingsland's high standing in contrast with doubts about the integrity of his Democratic opponent, Fernando Wood, contributed to Ambrose Kingsland's election by almost 4,000 votes over Wood.

Ambrose Kingsland's proposal was the first official step in a tortuous two-year process leading to the State legislation that authorized the creation of Central Park.

Ambrose Kingsland's proposal did not specify a location, other than that it should be "in the northern section of the island".

Ambrose Kingsland appointed a Special Committee on Parks to evaluate other possible sites, primarily the central site.

Ambrose Kingsland thereupon suggested the Common Council petition the State legislature to replace the Jones Wood authorization with Central Park authorization.

Under the new municipal charter of 1849, there was little Ambrose Kingsland could do, as mayor, to thwart the corruption.

Ambrose Kingsland was married to Mary Lovett, whose father, George Lovett, was born in England.

Ambrose Kingsland died at his home, 114 Fifth Avenue, at 11 o'clock on a Sunday evening, October 13,1878.

Ambrose Kingsland's home was at 114 Fifth Avenue, now the site of a Banana Republic store.

In 1866, Ambrose Kingsland purchased Hunter Island, now part of Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, for $127,501.

Ambrose Kingsland later purchased a sizeable country home north of the city along the Hudson River in North Tarrytown, present day Sleepy Hollow, New York.