Samuel Ruggles

Samuel Bulkley Ruggles (April 11, 1800 - August 28, 1881) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1838, and a Canal Commissioner from 1839 to 1842 and in 1858. As a large landholder, he donated the land for the creation of Gramercy Park in New York City. Its restrictive covenant has preserved it through much development nearby. He was a member of the city's Chamber of Commerce, which published his reports on economics and public policy. In the 1860s, he represented the United States at several international conferences on economics and statistics in Europe.

Samuel Ruggles was born in New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut, the son of Philo Ruggles, who became Surrogate and District Attorney of Dutchess County, New York. Samuel was a precocious student and graduated from Yale College in 1814 at the age of 14. Although he read for the law, he had to wait to be admitted to the bar until he came of age in 1821. He was a successful lawyer in New York City for several years and accumulated large landholdings, but eventually gave up the practice of law for public affairs.

As a large landholder in New York City, Ruggles created Gramercy Park, dedicated in 1831, to which he personally donated the land. He deeded the property to the city with a covenant restricting surrounding uses to residential and providing that the residents be taxed to maintain the park. He was also instrumental in getting Union Square established. Of the parks and squares he said,

"Come what will, our open squares will remain forever imperishable. Buildings, towers, palaces, may moulder and crumble beneath the touch of time; but space-free, glorious, open space -will remain to bless the City forever."

Ruggles died at the Surf Hotel on Fire Island where he spent his summer vacations. After his wife had died several years before, he had given up their big house and lived during the winter season at an apartment in the Westminster Hotel in New York City.

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