F. W. J. Hurst

Francis William Jones Hurst (February 13, 1840 – July 21, 1902), a native of the British West Indies, was a major figure in the cross-Atlantic shipping business in the 19th century. During the American Civil War, he captained ships that ran the Union blockade of Confederate ports. From the War's end to his death, he was the New York-based manager for the National Steam-Ship Company (also known as the National Line). The National Line brought goods and thousands of emigrants from ports in the British Isles to New York.

F. W. J. Hurst
Hurst c. 1868
Born
Francis William Jones Hurst

February 13, 1840
St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
DiedJuly 21, 1902(1902-07-21) (aged 62)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationBusinessman
Spouse
Caroline Eliza Jaffray
​
​
(m. 1868; died 1873)​
Children3, including Florence Jaffray Harriman

Early life

Francis William Jones Hurst was born in St. John's, Antigua (then in the British West Indies) on February 13, 1840.[1] His father was Alphoso John Hurst and his mother Sarah Esther Tuzo, both Bermudians. His aunt Mary Hurst was the wife of John Harvey Darrell, Chief Justice of Bermuda 1856-1871.

Hurst completed his education in Bermuda, and relocated to London, where in 1856 he began his mercantile career.[1]

Career

Three years after his move to London, he joined Guion & Co. of Liverpool, and also became a member of the Fifth Lancashire Rifle Volunteers.[1] The American Civil War began in 1861, soon after states in the southern United States created the Confederate States of America. The War immediately threatened the thriving trade between cotton plantations in those states and markets in Europe, especially after the Union Navy established a blockade of Confederate ports. That year Hurst returned to Bermuda and became managing clerk and agent for Edward Lawrence & Co.,[1] where his work included captaining ships seeking to “run” the Union naval blockade, carrying in guns, ammunition and medicine and carrying out cotton.[2] One such ship, the Banshee, was the first steel-built vessel to cross the Atlantic.[3] The Banshee made eight successful runs between the Bahamas and Wilmington, North Carolina, before being captured on its ninth voyage in November 1863.[3] Throughout this time, Hurst remained a member of the Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, becoming a lieutenant in 1864.[1]

In 1866 –one year after the War ended with the Confederacy's surrender – Hurst settled in New York, where he became United States manager for the British-based National Steam-ship Company.[1] Using six to ten ships, the company ran weekly voyages between Liverpool and New York via Queenstown (now known as Cobh), Ireland (and to a lesser degree, between London and New York). Emigrants from Europe to the United States made up a significant part of the National Line's business, along with freight. In testimony to a congressional committee in 1888, he described the company's emigrant passengers as English, Irish, and Scots, with some from Germany and northern Europe.[4]

Society and philanthropy

He was the longstanding treasurer of the New York Yacht Club,[5] and was a three-time president of the St. George's Society of New York (from 1880–81, 1889–91, and 1895–96).[1]

Personal life

On June 2, 1868, Hurst married Caroline Eliza Jaffray, daughter of wealthy New York dry-goods merchant Edward Sommerville Jaffray.[1] Two years later, Caroline gave birth to their first daughter, Florence. She would be known as “Daisy” before undertaking a long career in social work and public and political service. In 1873, however, after the birth of second and third daughters, Caroline Hurst died at age 29.[6] Caroline's parents then assisted Hurst to raise his three daughters, namely:[7]

Hurst and his daughters would spend their winters in a Fifth Avenue mansion, while spending their summers in an Irvington, New York estate.[2]

In July 1902, he suffered an attack of appendicitis, at a point when he was already weakened by intestinal problems.[10] He died soon thereafter, on July 21, 1902.[11]

References
  1. St George's Society (New York N.Y.); Bowring, Charles W.; Tabor, Francis Hebard; Waller, Robert; Beddall, Edward F.; Racker, H. A. (1913). A History of St. George's Society of New York from 1770 to 1913. Federal printing Company. p. 240. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. Harriman, Florence Jaffray (1923). From Pinafores to Politics. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
  3. “Maritime Tales: Story of the Banshee - built in Liverpool as a blockade runner in the American Civil War,” Liverpool Echo, 2011-01-22, accessed 2011-02-19.
  4. U.S. House of Representatives, “Testimony taken by the select committee to inquire into the alleged violation of the laws prohibiting the importation of contract laborers, paupers, convicts, and other classes,” 50th Cong., 1st Sess., at 33 (July 25, 1888).
  5. "The World Almanac," p. 247 (1899).
  6. "Funeral of Mrs. Hurst," New York Times, 1873-08-15.
  7. Judith A. Leavitt, “American Women Managers and Administrators: A Selective Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Leaders in Business, Education, and Government,” 102-03 (1985) ISBN 0-313-23748-4.
  8. Social Register, New York. Social Register Association. 1920. p. 356. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  9. "Mairs - Hurst," New York Times, 1894-04-27.
  10. “F.W.J. Hurst Very Ill,” New York Times, 1902-07-19.
  11. Death Announcement, New York Times, 1902-07-24.
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