Home › H › Higginson (HENRY LEE an American)

Higginson (HENRY LEE an American)

HENRY LEE, an American financier and philanthropist, born in New York City in 1834. He studied at Harvard, but left to travel in Europe and to study music there. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted to serve in the First Massachusetts Cavalry, and was brevetted lieutenant colonel.' He entered the banking business in 1868 as a member of the firm of Lee, Higginson & Co. and acquired a large fortune. His chief interest was music and he maintained as long as he lived the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the most noted musical organization in the United States. He also gave largely to charity. His prominence in all fields of activity won for him the name of "Boston's first citizen" and honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale universities. He died in 1919.

THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON later as colonel. His publications in- "Sympathy of Religions"; "Young Folks' History of the United States" "Young, Folks' Book of American Ex plorers"; "English History for Americans"; "Cheerful Yesterdays"; "Old Cambridge"; etc. He died May 9, 1911.