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William A. Chanler

William Astor Chanler
William Astor Chanler in 1896.jpg
William Astor Chanler in 1896
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 14th district
In office
March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901
Preceded by Lemuel E. Quigg
Succeeded by William H. Douglas
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the New York County, 5th district
In office
January 1, 1898 – December 31, 1898
Preceded by Richard Van Cott
Succeeded by Nelson H. Henry
Personal details
Born (1867-06-11)June 11, 1867
Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Died March 4, 1934(1934-03-04) (aged 66)
Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Resting place Trinity Church Cemetery
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Beatrice Ashley
(m. 1903—1909; separated)
Relations Samuel Cutler Ward (grandfather)
Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler (brother)
Robert Winthrop Chanler (brother)
John Armstrong Chaloner (brother)
Children William Astor Chanler, Jr.
Sidney Ashley Chanler
Parents John Winthrop Chanler
Margaret Astor Ward
Alma mater Harvard University
Occupation politician, soldier, explorer
Known for Exploration of East Africa, military exploits in Cuba, Libya, and Somalia

William Astor "Willie" Chanler (June 11, 1867 – March 4, 1934) was a soldier, explorer, and politician who served as U.S. Representative from New York. He was third son of John Winthrop Chanler (1826–1877) of the Dudley–Winthrop family and Margaret Astor Ward (1838–1875) of the Astor family. Through his father, he was a great-great-great-grandson of Peter Stuyvesant and a great-great-great-great-grandson of Wait Winthrop and Joseph Dudley. Through his mother, he was a grandnephew of Julia Ward Howe (1819–1910), John Jacob Astor III (1822–1890), and William Backhouse Astor, Jr. (1829–1892).

By the age of 27, he had already spent three years exploring East Africa, after which he embarked on a brief political career. Chanler regarded it as an American obligation to be on the side of the people who fought for their independence, and during his life he participated in rebellions and independence struggles in Cuba, Libya, and Somalia and provided support for insurgents in Venezuela, Turkey, and China. He maintained an active lifestyle even after losing his right leg in 1915. Late in life he became a novelist and an outspoken anti-Semite.

Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Chanler had nine brothers and sisters, including the politician Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler and the artist Robert Winthrop Chanler. His younger sister Margaret Livingston Chanler served as a nurse with the American Red Cross during the Spanish–American War. William's older brother Winthrop Astor Chanler served in the Rough Riders in Cuba and was wounded at the Battle of Tayacoba. His eldest brother John Armstrong "Archie" Chanler married novelist Amélie Louise Rives. His older sister Elizabeth Astor Winthrop Chanler married author John Jay Chapman. Chanler and his siblings became orphans after the death of their mother in December 1875 and their father in October 1877, both to pneumonia. The children were raised at their parents' estate in Rokeby, New York. John Winthrop Chanler's will provided $20,000 a year for each child for life, enough to live comfortably by the standards of the time.


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