Connecticut western news., 1888-02-29
w, w. CORCORAN.
Peaceful End of the Aged Philan-
 thropist's Busy Life.

W. ". Corcoran died at Washington, Feb. 24, of senile bronchitis in the 90th year of his age His end was peaceful. The duration of his present illness was but two weeks. though he has been gradually failing for the past year.
 Mir. Corcoran was born in Georgetown, Dec. 27, 179S His father, Thomas Corcoran, was born in Limerick, Ireland, and coming to this country in 1753, married Hannah Lennon of Baltimore in 17SS. The son at the age of IS entered into the dry goods business with two elder brothers. George Peabody was soon Afterward taken into the firm. They were at first successful, but under the stress of the paid their creditors 50 per cent. Several years later MT. Corcoran began business again, taking charge of tha real estate in the District of Columbia belonging to the United States, managing it safely and proftably until 1S45 when he went into the banking business with George W. Riggs in the building for merly occupied by the old United States Bank ct Washington. The business was successful, but Mir. Corcoran's financial ventures were SO extensive that MT. Riggs becoming afraid, withdrew from the firm. MT. Corcorsn, carry ing on the business alone, fonnd himself with $12,OOO,OOO of the Mexican war loan on his hands in falling market. He went to Lon don, enlisted great banking houses there in support of loan that seemed perilous. but that subsequently rose to high premium, and laid the basis of fortune that at the time of his death amounted to $4, 600, 600. He retired from active participation in the banking busi- ness in 1854 and found plenty to do in the management of his own property affairs. He bought large tracts of real estate here, erected buildings, increased his income in every direc- tion, and began those works of philanthropy which will make his name remembered by the side of his early partner, George Peabody.
 Plans of benevolence seem to have taken the foremost place in his solicitudes of later years The fruition of some of them are seen here in the beautiful Oak Hill Cemetery in George town, the Corcoran Art Gallery in this city, with its magnificent endowment, the 'sLouise'' Home for Impoverished Gentlemen, the name indicating his love and memory for 8 wife and daughter. both of whom are dead countless gifts to churches, church homes rich benefac- tions to colleges and universities and theologi- cal seminaries ceaseless contributions to in- stitutions of public charity, besides thousands of dollars given away to needy individuals. It is estimated that MT. Corcoran's charities, in- cluding private ones, exceed in the aggregate S3 COG, 900.
 Mir. Corcoran has long made his home in Washington the seat of an elegant hospitality and centre of social influence, the favorite meeting place of scholars, artists, statesmen, diplomatists and distinguished strangers.
 Mir. Corcoran in 1885 married Louise Amory Morris, daughter of Commodore Chas. Morris. Mrs. Corcoran died five years later. The first child, boy, died when an infant and an only daughter, Louise, who married George Eustis (brother of the present Senator Eustis), died in 1867, leaving two sons and Q daughter, who will undoubtedly inherit the bulk of MT. Cor cOran's fortune