George Washington Brackenridge
| George Washington Brackenridge | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 14, 1832 Warrick County, Indiana |
| Died | December 28, 1920 (aged 88) San Antonio, Texas |
| Resting place | Brackenridge Family Cemetery Jackson County, Texas 28°56′55″N 96°32′24″W / 28.94860°N 96.54000°W |
| Alma mater |
Hanover College Indiana University Harvard University |
| Known for | Philanthropy Regent Univ Texas San Antonio Water Works Banking industry |
George Washington Brackenridge (January 14, 1832 – December 28, 1920) was a philanthropist and the longest-serving Regent for the University of Texas. His donations of time, land holdings and wealth expanded the university and provided educational opportunities for women and other minorities. He was an advocate of women's suffrage and women's educational opportunities. He was also a business man who made his initial wealth as a profiteer during the Civil War. Brackenridge organized two banking institutions in San Antonio and served as their president. He was president of the San Antonio Water Works Company. Alamo Heights in Bexar County was once his residence and was named by him. His mansion Fernridge is now part of University of the Incarnate Word campus. Brackenridge Park, San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden and Mahncke Park in San Antonio were made possible through his donations of land holdings.
The Brackenridge name in Texas descended from Scotch-Irish Robert Breckenridge Sr., who emigrated from Northern Ireland with his brother Alexander c1730. Alexander's descendents spell their name Breckinridge. Alexander and his family migrated to Virginia. Robert Sr. stayed in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The descendants of Robert Sr. spell their name either Breckenridge or Brackenridge. Robert Jr. (c1735-c1779) was killed in an Indian raid, and his children were taken in by separate families. His son John Brackenridge (c. 1772 – May 2, 1844) was raised in Washington, D.C.. He became the first Presbyterian minister in Washington D.C. and was appointed Chaplain of the United States Senate in 1811. John Brackenridge's children were daughter Attilia Ann Brackenridge, and sons James Madison Brackenridge, Thomas Jefferson Brackenridge and John Adams Brackenridge, who was the father of George Washington Brackenridge.
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