William Wilson Corcoran
| William Wilson Corcoran | |
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| Born | Georgetown, Washington, DC December 27, 1798 |
| Died | February 24, 1888 (aged 89) Washington, DC |
| Spouse(s) | Louise Morris |
William Wilson Corcoran (December 27, 1798 – February 24, 1888) was an American banker, philanthropist, and art collector. He started the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
Corcoran was born on December 27, 1798 in Georgetown in the District of Columbia, the son of Thomas Corcoran, a well-to-do merchant whom the people of Georgetown twice elected as mayor, and Hannah Lemmon. His father was born in Ireland, settled in Georgetown in 1788, and established a leather business. William Corcoran was raised in Georgetown where he studied classics and mathematics at local private schools run by Alexander Kirk and the Reverend Addison Belt, and also took classes for a year at Georgetown College, the predecessor of Georgetown University. Instead of finishing his education, he joined the family business and developed a successful business career.
Corcoran joined the Potomac Lodge No. 5 of Free and Accepted Masons in Georgetown and was raised as a Master Mason on July 26, 1827.
In 1835, Corcoran eloped and married Louise Morris, who was the daughter of Commodore Charles Morris. His wife died in 1840, but not before they had three children — Harriet Louise, Louise Morris, and Charles Morris. The middle child, Louise Morris (1838–1867), was the only one to survive into adulthood; she later married George Eustis, Jr.. After his wife died in 1841, Corcoran chose not to marry again. He died on February 24, 1888 in Washington, DC.
Corcoran entered business at the age of 17, working in dry goods store owned by two brothers, and opened his own branch store two years later. Corcoran brothers established a wholesale auction and commission business, but their ventures failed after the Panic of 1819. He worked in another family business, and in 1828, he took control of large amount of real estate from his father.
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