Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt

Elliott Roosevelt Sr. was born on February 28, 1860, and died on August 14, 1894. He was an American socialite and a member of the Roosevelt family of Oyster Bay. He was the third of four children of Theodore Roosevelt Sr. (1831–1878) and Martha Stewart "Mittie" Bulloch (1835–1884). His siblings included Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (elder brother), Corinne Roosevelt (younger sister), and Anna Roosevelt, known as "Bamie" (older sister). Elliott was a descendant of the Schuyler family through his ancestor Cornelius Van Schaack Jr.

Elliott Roosevelt attended St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, beginning in September 1875. He performed well academically but had to withdraw due to illness. Throughout his life, he was known for a charming personality and a growing drinking problem that commenced at a young age.

In 1876-1877, Roosevelt made two hunting trips into West Texas. The first trip sparked his interest in wilderness pursuits. During his second trip, at age 16, Elliott was accompanied by a cousin, John Roosevelt. They traveled to Dallas and planned to hunt bison and visit Fort McKavett in Menard County, Texas. Following plans influenced by local sportsmen, they traveled to West Texas and engaged in hunting activities. Their journey included encounters with wildlife such as bison, deer, antelope, quail, wild turkeys, and rabbits. The expedition encountered dangers such as a stampeding herd of bison and a near-incident where Roosevelt was charged by a wounded bull. The party faced hardships like stolen horses and difficult terrain, walking approximately 140 miles back to Fort Griffin. The trip concluded with their return to Dallas in late May 1877, after which Roosevelt and John returned to New York.

Following his father's death in 1878, Elliott inherited a considerable fortune and adopted a lifestyle involving travel and hunting, including pursuits such as tiger hunting in India. On October 27, 1880, he served as best man at Theodore Roosevelt's first marriage to Alice Hathaway Lee.

Elliott Roosevelt married Anna Rebecca Hall on December 1, 1883, at Calvary Church in New York City. Anna was a wealthy debutante, and their marriage produced three children: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962), often called Eleanor Roosevelt; Eleanor Roosevelt Jr. (September 29, 1889 – May 25, 1893), who died from scarlet fever; and Gracie Hall Roosevelt (June 28, 1891 – September 25, 1941), known as Hall.

Elliott’s struggles with alcohol increased after his marriage. He was exiled to Abingdon, Virginia, where he maintained correspondence with Eleanor Roosevelt. He fathered a son with a servant girl named Katy Mann, employed by Anna Roosevelt. His brother Theodore arranged for a detective to examine the child, and the family reached a financial settlement out of court, which was subsequently misappropriated, leaving the child without restitution. Eleanor Roosevelt corresponded with her half-brother Elliott Roosevelt Mann (1891–1976).

In 1891, Theodore Roosevelt and his sister Anna orchestrated Elliott’s removal from his family, which Elliott considered a "kidnapping," and took him to Europe. He was institutionalized in a sanitarium. Despite evaluations confirming his sanity and mental competence, Theodore Roosevelt retained control over his brother’s estate and kept him separated from his children.

Elliott Roosevelt’s wife Anna died in 1892. Their son Elliott Jr. died of scarlet fever the following year. Overwhelmed by grief, loss, and continued restrictions on his children’s access, his depression and alcoholism worsened. On August 13, 1894, Elliott attempted suicide by jumping from a window. He survived the fall but suffered a seizure the next day and died of heart failure on August 14, 1894, at the age of 34. His death was associated with advanced alcoholism, characterized by heavy consumption of champagne and brandy.