# Edward Russell Thomas

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American businessman and sportsman (1875–1926)

Edward R. Thomas Thomas at Yale, c. 1894 Born (1875-12-30)December 30, 1875 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Died July 6, 1926(1926-07-06) (aged 50) New York City, U.S. Alma mater Yale University Occupations Businessman, newspaper publisher Spouses Linda Lee Thomas ​ ​ (m. 1901; div. 1912)​ Elizabeth Finley ​ ​ (m. 1912; div. 1924)​ Lucy Cotton ​ (m. 1924)​ Children 2 Parent(s) Samuel Russell Thomas Ann Augusta Porter Thomas

**Edward Russell Thomas** (December 30, 1875 – July 6, 1926)[1] was an American businessman and sportsman.

## Early life and education

Edward Russell Thomas was born in [Columbus, Ohio](/source/Columbus%2C_Ohio) on December 30, 1875.[2] He was a son of Ann Augusta ([née](/source/N%C3%A9e) Porter) Thomas (1847–1944) and Union general [Samuel Russell Thomas](/source/Samuel_Russell_Thomas) (1840–1903), who left a fortune estimated at $20,000,000.[1][3] His younger sister, Eleanor Thomas,[4] was married to [Robert Livingston Beeckman](/source/Robert_Livingston_Beeckman), who served as the [Governor of Rhode Island](/source/Governor_of_Rhode_Island) from 1915 to 1921.[5]

He graduated from [Yale University](/source/Yale_University) in 1894.[3]

## Career

Thomas was a senior member of Thomas & Thomas, a Wall Street firm.[3] In 1904, he acquired the *[New York Morning Telegraph](/source/New_York_Morning_Telegraph)* from the estate of [William Collins Whitney](/source/William_Collins_Whitney).[6]

On October 31, 1905, board vacancies of [Consolidated National Bank](/source/Consolidated_National_Bank) were filled by E. R. Thomas, O. F. Thomas, [Robert Maclay](/source/Robert_Maclay_(merchant)#Family), and George B. Hays, all who were selected by E. R. Thomas.[7] E.R. Thomas sold his interest in the Consolidated National Bank in October 1907, also resigning from his positions.[8]

He was a member of the [Union Club of the City of New York](/source/Union_Club_of_the_City_of_New_York).[3]

## Personal life

Thomas' third wife, [Lucy Cotton](/source/Lucy_Cotton)

On June 29, 1901, he married 17 year old [Linda Lee Thomas](/source/Linda_Lee_Thomas), a member of the prominent [Lee family](/source/Lee_family) of Virginia, at [Newport, Rhode Island](/source/Newport%2C_Rhode_Island). Linda, who was "known as one of the country's most beautiful women," was introduced to Thomas by friends and after their marriage, they lived a life of luxury, with houses in [Palm Beach](/source/Palm_Beach%2C_Florida), Manhattan, and Newport. They divorced on October 26, 1912 and she later remarried to well-known [musical theatre](/source/Musical_theatre) composer [Cole Porter](/source/Cole_Porter).

In 1912, on the day his first wife obtained her final divorce decree, he married Elizabeth Finley, a daughter of Henry Finley of New York City. Before their 1924 divorce in Florida, they were the parents of one son together: Samuel Finley Thomas (1913–1989), who became a medical doctor.[9]

In 1924, he married actress [Lucy Cotton](/source/Lucy_Cotton), the daughter of Adelaide Wisby Cotton and Warren Jefferson Cotton. Together, they lived at 320 [Park Avenue](/source/Park_Avenue) and were the parents of one daughter:[10] Lucetta Cotton Thomas (1925–1980), who changed her name to Mary Frances Thomas and married Kenneth Oscar Bailey.[11]

Thomas died after a three day illness at the Harbor Sanitarium in New York City on July 6, 1926. He was buried at [Sleepy Hollow Cemetery](/source/Sleepy_Hollow_Cemetery) in [Sleepy Hollow, New York](/source/Sleepy_Hollow%2C_New_York).[1] His daughter Lucetta inherited Thomas' fortune.[10]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ertobit_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ertobit_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ertobit_1-2) ["E. R. Thomas, Noted Sportsman, Dies; Was an Owner of The Morning Telegraph and a Former Banker; Had Spectacular Career; Inherited a Fortune and Lost Heavily in Panic -- Early Auto-Racing Enthusiast"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1926/07/07/98488310.pdf) (PDF). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. July 7, 1926. p. Sports 25. Retrieved February 13, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bio_2-0)** Ingham, John N. (1983). [*Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Chd3aMxXCFQC&pg=PA1453). Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 1453–1455. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780313213625](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780313213625). Retrieved March 29, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aboutclubmen_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aboutclubmen_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-aboutclubmen_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-aboutclubmen_3-3) ["About Clubmen"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/20337525/?terms=%22Peter%2BMarie%22). *The New York Times*. August 10, 1902. p. 45. Retrieved July 5, 2015 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MrsRLBObit1920_4-0)** ["Mrs R. L. Beeckman Dead in Virginia -- R I Governor's Wife Was Stricken Suddenly"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30044591/mrs_r_l_beeckman_dead_in_virginia/). *[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)*. December 21, 1920. p. 11. Retrieved March 29, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-RLBObit1935_5-0)** ["Robert Beeckman, Ex-Governor, Dies; Descendant Also of Livingstons Served 3 Terms, 1915-21, as Rhode Island Executive. Was Friend of Harding; Republican, 68, Was Mentioned for Vice President--Had Been in State Legislature"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1935/01/22/93444311.pdf) (PDF). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. January 22, 1935. Retrieved March 29, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-buy_6-0)** ["The Morning Telegraph Sold. Secured from the Whitney Estate by E. R. Thomas"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1904/03/22/117939211.pdf) (PDF). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. March 22, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved February 13, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nyt-resigned_7-0)** ["O. F. Thomas Now Heads Consolidated National; Is Elected President to Succeed Willis S. Paine. New Directors are Named;D E.R. Thomas Probably Will Be Allowed to Fill the Remaining Vacancies"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1905/11/01/105976387.pdf) (PDF). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. November 1, 1905. p. 13. Retrieved February 13, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nyt-thomas_8-0)** ["Banks Sound; Will Be Backed; The Strength of the Clearing House Is Pledged to Give Needed Support. The Thomases out Now; Seth M. Milliken Heads Mercantile and W.F. Havemeyer the Bank of North America. Undesired Controls End; And Speyer, Schiff, and Other Leading Bankers Agree That the Situation Is Now Cleared Up"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1907/10/21/106713417.pdf) (PDF). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. October 21, 1907. p. 1. Retrieved February 13, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-americanalpineclub_9-0)** ["Samuel Finley Thomas, M.D., 1913-1989 - AAC Publications - Search The American Alpine Journal and Accidents"](http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199035300/Samuel-Finley-Thomas-MD-1913-1989). *publications.americanalpineclub.org*. [American Alpine Club](/source/American_Alpine_Club). Retrieved March 29, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-book_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-book_10-1) Murrell, Muriel V. (2003). [*Miami, a Backward Glance*](https://books.google.com/books?id=4iqKnDCmQdAC&pg=PA125). Pineapple Press Inc. p. 125. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781561642861](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781561642861). Retrieved March 29, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mrsastor_11-0)** ["Mrs. Astor and the Gilded Age"](https://mrsastor.com/content/17/). *mrsastor.com*. August 19, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2019.

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