Ambrose Cornelius Kingsland was a wealthy sperm oil merchant who served as the 71st mayor of New York City from 1851 to 1853. In 1851, he initiated the legislation that eventually led to the construction of Central Park.
Early life
Kingsland was born on May 24, 1804, in New York City. He was the son of Cornelius Kingsland and Abigail Kingsland. His siblings included Daniel Cock Kingsland, Rebecca Kingsland Sutton, Jane Kingsland Rogers, Clara Ada Kingsland High. He was a member of the old New Jersey Kingsland family who had for nearly 200 years lived in and around Belleville, New Jersey. His maternal grandparents were Isaac Cock and Charity Cock. His paternal grandparents were Stephen Kingsland and Jane Kingsland. He was the uncle of William M. Kingsland, who owned 1026 Fifth Avenue.
Career
Kingsland began his career as a general merchant and commission business in 1820, which became A. C. Kingsland and Sons, located at No. 55 Broadway in lower Manhattan. His firm was involved in the sale of sperm oil. In 1848, he was nominated for Mayor of New York and, two years later, was elected Mayor by almost 4,000 votes over Fernando Wood, the Democratic candidate. He served as the 71st mayor of New York City from 1851 to 1853, the first mayor to be elected to a two-year term. In 1851, he initiated the legislation that eventually led to the construction of Central Park. In 1886, Kingsland commissioned an iron-fronted building at 74 Grand Street in Soho, designed by George DaCunha. The building was demolished in 2010, and a new building was constructed in its place in 2020 which incorporated the original facade.
Personal life
Kingsland was married to Mary Lovett, whose father, George Lovett, was born in England. Together, they were the parents of eight children:
Henry Pierre Kingsland, who married Harriet Emily Brierton, daughter of William Arthur Brierton
Mary Helena Kingsland, who married William Wright Tompkins, son of Daniel Hyatt Tompkins and grandson of Daniel D. Tompkins, the 6th Vice President of the United States.
Cornelius Francis Kingsland
Walter Francis Kingsland, who married Blanche Vanderbilt Marcelin, the daughter of Jules Marcelin and first wife of Franklin Morse Singer.
Albert Alexander Kingsland, who married Jennie Travis, the daughter of Gilbert Travis and Abbie Rogers Travis.
Philip Kingsland, who died young.
Augusta Lovett Kingsland, who married Herman Leroy Jones.
Kingsland died at his home, 114 Fifth Avenue, at 11 o'clock on a Sunday evening, October 13, 1878. In his obituary, The New York Times announced that his death "removes one of the last of that band of old New-York merchants who were in business 50 years ago, and whose names have become interwoven with the history of New-York."
Through his son George, he was the grandfather of Helen Schermerhorn Kingsland, who married Augustus Newbold Morris , George L. Kingsland and Ethel Kingsland Anderson. Through his son Ambrose, he was the grandfather of Walter F. Kingsland, who married the Princess Marie Louise of Orléans in 1928, Marjorie Kingsland, who married Viscount Robert de Vaulogé in the Church of St. Clotilde, Paris, and Muriel Kingsland, who married Captain Ivan Barrington White of the British diplomatic service. Through his son Albert, he was the grandfather of Albert Alexander Kingsland, Albert Harold Kingsland, and Henry C. Kingsland.
Legacy
A waterfront park in the Westchester County suburb still bears Kingsland's name, as does Kingsland Avenue in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, which he helped survey. There is also a Kingsland Avenue in the Baychester section of the Bronx.
