The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-19
SHORT SKETCH
PROMINENT
MAN
Some of the Accomplish.
ments of Alex. Stoddart,
Who Died Recently.

The New York Journal of Com
merce and Commercial Bulletin of re-
cent date contains the following very
interesting sketch of the life of Alex
ander Stoddart, who was well known
in this city, and who recently died:
Alexander Stoddart, founder of the
New York Underwriters Agency,
died at his country residence, at
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Tuesday night,
after an illness of ten months. Dur
ing last winter Mr. Stoddart suffered
from an attack of an apoletic charac-
ter, from which he was unable to en-
tirely rally. A complication of dis
seases ensued, and Notwithstanding
all that medical skill could do his
strength gradually failed, until the
end came, The funeral services will
be held at the Rutgers Presbyterian
Church. Broadway and Seventy-third
street, New York city, at l p. m, Fri
day The interment will be private,
in the family plot at Greenwood Gene
terry.
Alexander Stoddart was born in
1886 at Leith, Scotland. With his
parents he came to this country when
six years of age, and his boyhoOd
days were spent at Georgetown, KY
After leaving college he removed to
Cincinnati and entered the Office of
the western department of the Aetna
Fire Insurance Company of Hartford.
of which the late J. B. Bennett was
then general agent The latter, per-
ceiving his young employees ability.
special agent for the Aetna, Mr. Stod-
dart travelled extensively throughout
the western and southern states. In
1884 he came to New York and es-
tablished the New York Underwriters
Agency, of which for forty-two years
he has remained the head-first as
sole general agent, and since 1895 in
partnership with his cousin, as senior
member of the firm Of A. and J. H.
| Stoddart
Mr.. Stoddart was one of the or
ganizers of the National Board of Fire
Underwriters, and when that body
was the rate-making organization of
| the United States, served actively up
on its committees. In 1904 the Nation
al Board paid him the signal honor
of electing him a life member of its
executive committee. He was also a
charter member Of the Western Union
of Fire Underwriters.
"In many important particulars Mr..
| Stoddart has left his impress upon the
! fire insurance business of the country.
1t was hfs contention that insurance
is commerce that occasloned him to
cause the agent of the New York Un'
derwriters' Agency at Petersburg, Va.
! Samuel B. Paul. to institute the suit
| of Paul VS.. Virginia, the decision OF
which in the Supreme Court Of the
| United States rendered the cause
celebrated in the annals of that tri
bunal. While the court negatived the
proposition that insurance Is com
merce, it in its decision, enunciated
principles which ever since have had
far-reaching effects upon interstate
relations of corporations. He was
the originator and first user Of the
"daily report" now so familiar to al
insurance men, and introduced into
the business other innovations since
generally adopted.
"Mr. Stoddart had been engaged il
fire insurance for fifty-two years, and
although latterly not especially active
died in the harness. He was great!
respected for his ability, honorable
methods, and high business ideals ant
beloved by all his intimates. AS thu
originator of the New York Under
writer's Agency, he has long beer
prominent in the insurance world. HI
enjoyed an extensive acquaintance
throughout the entire country, and hi
many friends will learn with deep re
, greet of the death Of this veteran un
, derwriter His wife survives him.