Edward Minturn

Periodca. 1845 - 1850

MediumDaguerreotype

DimensionsImage: 3.5 × 2.75 in. (8.9 × 7 cm)
Case: 5.25 × 4.5 × 0.63 in. (13.3 × 11.4 × 1.6 cm)

ClassificationsDaguerreotypes and Ambrotypes

Credit LineGift of Mary Minturn Adams in memory of her Hartshorne Ancestors, 2018

Object number2018.10.14

DescriptionThe waist length portrait of Edward Minturn depicts the sitter in 3/4 view facing left, with his left arm propped atop a cloth covered table. Edward wears his dark hair parted on the side and swept over his forehead with his side hair brushed towards the temples above the ears. Edward wears closely cropped beard below the chin. Virtually no collar is visible. Edward wears a wide black stock, white shirt, light colored plaid vest, and a close fitting dark or black coat. The image is set in an arch topped frame in a standard daguerreotype case with a plain maroon silk lining.
Curatorial RemarksIt is interesting to compare the daguerreotype images of Edward Minturn and his younger brother Charles Minturn (please see accession number 2018.10.13). While the brothers share many of the familial features, including a long jaw and narrow shoulders, older brother Edward appears more stoic in expression. According to extensive surviving family correspondence, the brothers were much different in personality, with Edward much more conservative in his business ventures than younger brother Charles. Judging from the clothing in both daguerreotypes, the images were created within a few years of each other.NotesEdward Minturn was born on 7 July 1806, a son of Benjamin G. Minturn and Mary Bowne. For many years, he was a partner in New York with Albert Woodhull in Woodhull & Minturn, proprietors of a wel-known line of Liverpool packets that included such notable ships as the Queen of the West and the Constitution. This firm retired from business in 1848, their vessels having been purchasedby Grinnell, Minturn & Company for use on theif Blue Swallowtail Line between New York and Liverpool. Robert B. Minturn, a partner in Grinnell, was a first cousin to Edward Minturn. The latter remained very close to his Hartshorne nieces and nephews, children of his sister Mary Ann Minturn and her husband Robert Hartshorne. Edward also took an active role after 1850 in the West Coast investments and business ventures of his brother Charles Minturn, and nephew Benjamin M. Hartshorne. In 1854 and 1855, Minturn erected an imposing Italianate-style house with a tower at Lower Rocky Point in the Highlands on land acquired from his brother-in-law Robert Hartshorne. The elevated location offered spectacular views to the east of the open ocean over Sea Bright, and south over the Navesink River toward Rumson and Long Branch. After the Civil War ended, Minturn partnered with Moses Taylor of New York to form the Merchants Steamboat Company. This new company provided passenger and freight service between New York and Red Bank, with intermediate stops at the Highlands Dock near Minturn's Monmouth County estate and at other locations along the Navesink River. Never married, Edward Minturn died in New York in May of 1879, a very wealthy individual. In his will, Minturn left $40,000 to his sister Cornelia, plus all the furniture, wearing apparel, silver plate, wines, liquors, pictures, and books in his city and country houses. Other bequests included $15,000 to his nephew Benjamin M. Hartshorne "for the latter's kindness in attending to the business of the testator," $12,000 to his favorite cousin Penelope Colt, $15,000 in trust to support former servants, and the residue in various shares to his siblings and nieces.

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