Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-25
w w. COrcOran.

Yesterday there passed away at Wash
ton man who became national cha
ractor and gained a worldwide reputa-
ton owing to his love for his fellow-man.
What nobler record could any one leave?
WILLIAM WILSON CoRcoBAS died at his
residence, in the National Capital, at +
o'clock A. III. Thus closed an unblem-
ished career of nearly ninety years.
Mr.. CoRcoRAN was born in George
town, D. c.. December y, l7Jo,
and was educated in the schools
Of that city and at Georgetown
College. At the age of seventeen
he entered the dry goods business with
his two older brothers. The firm pros
pcred until 1928, when it went down
in the financial crash of that year
not. however, until the CoRCORANs had
sacrificed everything they possessed in
an effort to maintain their credit. AS 1t
was, they paid dollar for dollar all con
fidential debts, and compromised with
the res. Of their creditors at 80 per cent.
In 1923 Mr.. CoRCoBAN took charge OF
the real estate held in the District OF
Columbia by the United States Bank and
the Bank of Columbia, and until 1886
devoted himself faithfully to that trust.
In 1897 he began business as a broker
and banker. and few years later took
into partnership the late GEORGE W.
RIGGs. The firm prospered, and one OF
the first uses Mr.. CoRCORAN made Of his
accumulations was ITO discharge. principal
and interest. the debts for which
a legal compromise had been made IN
1922. During the Mexican war Mr.
RIoGs. alarmed, it is said, at the bold
ness and magnitude Of Mr.. CORCoRAN's
financial operations, retired from the
firm. Mr.. CoRCORAN continued in bust
ness until 1854, his every venture seem
inc to meet with success, and soon he
began 20 number his fortune by the
millions. After 1854 he devoted himself
10 his private matters and to the map
ping ont and pushing OF schemes OF
philanthropy. 1t is estimated that his
charities, public and private, aggregated
over 25,OOO,000 His gifts took wide
range, embracing donations to churches,
universities. theological seminares, mon
ument associations. and charitable insti-
tutions Of all sorts. During the
civil war Mr.. CoRcORAN sympa-
thized with the South so strongly
that he found it prudent if not
necessary to take up his residence
abroad He was warm friend to Viz
ginia, and showed his friendship 10y sub
stantial donations to some OF her H.
situations, notably Washington and Lee
University, the University Of Virginia.
the Virginia Historical Society, and
r. +. Lee Camp Soldiers Homo He
never sought political preferment, we
believe, but served as officer or member
of the boards of many educational and
charitable institutions. He was great
lover of art, and gave practical proof
of this fact by the establishment and en-
dowment of the Corcoran Art Gallery.
In 1885 Mr.. CORcoRAN married LOUISE
AMoRY MORRIS, daughter of the
late Commodore MORRIS. She died in
1910, and that grand charity the Louise
Home in Washington is not only monu-
ment to her memory and that OF the
daughter. butnobly enshrines the memory
of MIR. CoRCoRAN. The life Of MIR. Coz
coRAN is an example to others who have
been blessed with this worlds goods, not
only as regards what he gave, but IN re
spect of his manner of giving. lie
lived to see the fruits of his beneiactiOns.
He worked with and helped to-day those
who needed help, waiting not for the
morrow. His name will be revered
wherever sterling integrity, generosity,
benefcence, beneyolence, and philan-
tbropv are known. These virtues, which
had for their foundation pure Christian
life. are memorial columns to Mr.. Con-
coRAN more enduring than any shaft of
marble those who live after him may
rect TO perpetuate the remembrance Of
his good deeds.