Overview
George Beach de Forest Jr. (October 15, 1848 – July 1932) was an American capitalist, bibliophile, and art collector who was prominent in New York society during the Gilded Age.
Early life
De Forest was born in New York City on October 15, 1848. He was the son of prominent merchant George Beach de Forest Sr. (1806–1865) and Margaret Eliza de Forest (1809–1860). His older brother was Benjamin Lockwood de Forest, who married Kate Louise Knapp, and his cousins included railroad executive Henry deForest and artist Lockwood de Forest.
He was the grandson of Benjamin and Mary (née Burlock) de Forest and the great-grandson of Elihu de Forest, who was a Lieutenant in the 16th Connecticut militia during the American Revolutionary War.
Career
De Forest was a graduate of Columbia University in 1871. His father and family were involved in the dry goods business trade, between the U.S. and the West Indies, with the firm of B. DeForest & Co.
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
