Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-02-24
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Dessh orW. w. Corcoran.

WASHINGTON, Feb. A.-Mr. w. w Cor
corau died this morning at half past six
o'clock. He had lain all night 10 the same
totally unconscious state that he had been
in for the past thirty six hours, and the only
sign that life was not extinct was the slight
movement of his chest and nostrils. About
six o'clock the ladies OF the household, his
niece, Miss Jones, eud his granddaughter,
Miss Eustis, were quickly summoned to the
room. He quietly bresthed his last aud died
without tremor aud apparently without
pain. The funeral will take place on Mon
day evening next at 2 O'Clock.
Wm Wilson Corcoran was born in George
town, D. c. December 81, 1898, his father
being native of Ireland who removed to
Georgetown in 1857 and was for many years
the mayor of the town. Mr.. Corcorau frat
engaged in the dry goods business and after
wards became q commission merchant
From 1928 to 1886 he was in charge of the
real estate business of the Bank of Columbia
and of the branch of the L. s. Bank at
Washington. He then entered into business
as banker and broker in which his remained
until 1854. 10 1910 he took the late George
W. Riggs into business with him. When
the Mexican war broke out the Govern
ment had great difficulty in inducing prom
ineut fnanciers to float its bonds. The firm
of Corcoran & Riggs lhereupon offered to
undertake the work and by their skill in ac-
completing the task not only laid the foun-
dation of their subsequent fortunes but
earned for themselves high names 10 the
financial world Ii 1885 Mr.. Corcoran mar
ried the daughter of Commodore Morris.
She died FIVE years later leaving an only
child, Louise. 1t is, however, as public
benefactor and philanthropst that Mr. Cor
coran is best known. In 1S47 he purchased
the site of Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown,
expended aboutS120,000 improving itand pre-
sented the cemetery to his native town. The
Corcoran Art Gallery he established 10 1857 /,
spending about 100000 in fitting it up, and
in addition establishing an endowment fund
of nearly millioo dollars forit benefit. The
war interrupted his plans with respect to
this structure, but at its close be entered
upon the work with increased energy and
transferred his entire collection ofpaintings.
5tatuary and works of art to it. Another
of his large public gifts is the Louise Home
which he founded 10 memory OF his wife. II
is intended as home for aged women Of re-
fuement and education, who By reverse Of
fortune have been reduced from efiaence to
poverty. This building cost about $780,
coo and has an endowment fund in addi
ton of about $500 600. Mr.. Corcoran has
also made large and valuable gifts to the
Washington Orphan Asylum, Columbian
University and many institutions in the
South. he aso gave S100,0O0 to the Church
of the Ascension, ofthis city. To the Uni
versity of Virginia he has made gifts amount
ing to about 100000 besides library
amounting to about 4 600 volumes.
Mr.Corcoran's private life has been as pure
and unostentatious ss his public benefactlons
have been munifcsnt and have made his
name loved and respected both ia his native
city and throughout the country. His
wealth is estimated at s., 900 900 of which
| large part Is in real estate