Colonel archibald gracie biography of william

American businessman and merchant

For other uses, see Archibald Gracie (disambiguation).

Archibald Gracie (June 25, 1755 – April 11, 1829) was a Scottish-born shipping magnate and early American businessman and merchant in New York City and Virginia whose spacious home, Gracie Mansion, now serves as the residence of the Mayor of New York City.^[1]

Early life

Archibald Gracie was born June 25, 1755, in Dumfries, Scotland.

He was the son of a weaver named William Gracie. In 1776, Gracie moved to Liverpool and clerked for a London shipping firm. He used his earnings to purchase a part interest in a merchant ship.

Colonel archibald gracie biography of william

Career

In April 1784, he sailed to America with a cargo of goods that were his own profit stock. He used the proceeds to invest in a mercantile company in New York City. He later moved to Petersburg, Virginia, and engaged in the export of tobacco to Great Britain.^[2] In 1793, he moved back to New York and became a commissary