Theodore Roosevelt Sr.

Theodore Roosevelt Sr. was born on September 22, 1831, in Albany, New York. He was the son of Cornelius Roosevelt and Margaret Barnhill. Roosevelt had four older brothers named Silas, James, Cornelius Jr., and Robert, while his younger brother William died at the age of one. He was a fifth great-grandson of Herman op den Graeff, a Mennonite bishop born in 1585.

Roosevelt married Martha Stewart Bulloch on December 22, 1853. Martha was from Roswell, Georgia, and the daughter of Major James Stephens Bulloch and Martha "Patsy" Stewart. Her family residence was Bulloch Hall in Roswell. Together, they had four children: Anna Roosevelt (born 1855), Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (born 1858), Elliott Roosevelt (born 1860), and Corinne Roosevelt (born 1861). Theodore Jr. later became the 26th president of the United States, and Elliott was the father of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Roosevelt was engaged in business as a member of the plate-glass importing firm Roosevelt & Son. Beyond his commercial endeavors, he was involved in numerous philanthropic activities. He helped establish the New York City Children's Aid Society and initiated the creation of a permanent Newsboys' Lodging House, where stray boys could find shelter for a few cents instead of staying in less sanitary flophouses. He also contributed to the founding of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, and the New York Children's Orthopedic Hospital.

He participated actively in social reform efforts and supported organizations focused on cruelty prevention to children and animals. Roosevelt also supported the Union during the American Civil War. Despite his support for the Union cause, his wife and her family had Confederate sympathies, with her brothers Irvine Bulloch and James Dunwoody Bulloch fighting for the Confederacy. Roosevelt himself was a charter member of the Union League Club, which aimed to promote Union interests. During the Civil War, Roosevelt helped develop and promote an Allotment System to support soldiers' families and served as Treasurer for a Union League Club initiative that provided Thanksgiving dinners to soldiers of the Army of the Potomac.

In December 1877, Roosevelt was nominated for the position of Collector of the Port of New York; however, the U.S. Senate rejected his nomination. His political involvement was marked by this and other efforts to support Union and social causes.

Roosevelt was also committed to healthcare and medical philanthropy. He founded the New York Orthopedic Hospital after his daughter Corinne, affectionately called Bamie, was born with a curved spine. The hospital's establishment was inspired by the innovative treatments of Dr. Charles Fayette Taylor, who specialized in correcting physical deformities in children. Roosevelt organized a social gathering under the guise of a charity event, which resulted in immediate financial support for the hospital's founding.

He held various positions within cultural and charitable organizations. Roosevelt served as a director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, and he was involved with the Bureau of United Charities and the New York State Board of Charities. Additionally, he contributed financially to the Young Men's Christian Association.

Roosevelt's death occurred on February 9, 1878, at the age of 46. His life was characterized by active involvement in business, philanthropy, and social reform initiatives in New York City.