{{infobox person | name = | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1850|02|03}} | birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts | death_date = {{death date and age|1931|10|25|1850|02|03}} | death_place = New York City, New York | parents = James Tucker<br>Rebecca Chamberlin | spouse = {{marriage|Elizabeth Foster<br>|1876|1937|reason=died}} | children = Ethel Bethune, Countess of Lindsay<br>Ralph Tucker<br>Marion Tucker | relatives = William Lindesay-Bethune, 14th Earl of Lindsay (grandson) }} '''William Austin Tucker''' (1850 – 1931) was an American banker and founder of Tucker, Anthony & Co..
==Early life== Tucker was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 3, 1850. He was the son of Rebecca ({{nee}} Chamberlin) Tucker and James Tucker, senior member of the firm of James Tucker & Co., manufacturers. His brother, James Alfred Tucker, married Martha Hamlin Elms.<ref name="Cutter1908">{{cite book |last1=Cutter |first1=William Richard |title=Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts |date=1908 |publisher=Lewis historical publishing Company |page=373 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rRCw8FTi1HgC&pg=PA373 |access-date=20 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
He was a descendant of Robert Tucker, who came to America from England in 1635.<ref name="1931TuckerObit"/>
==Career== thumb|260px|Tucker, Anthony & Company logo, {{circa|1910}} In 1889, Tucker entered the field of banking and finance, at which time he organized the firm of Walter, Tucker & Co. Upon the death in 1892 of Walter, the firm of Tucker, Anthony & Co. was organized, with S. Reid Anthony as a member.<ref name="SRAObit1914">{{cite news |last1=Times |first1=Special to The New York |title=S. REED ANTHONY DEAD.; Boston Banker and Member of New York Stock Exchange. |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D04E0DD163AE633A25752C1A9659C946596D6CF |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=11 March 1914}}</ref> Later Phillip L. Saltonstall, Nathan Anthony and Chauncey Eldridge joined the partnership, and the firm eventually became a leader among the banking and brokerage houses in Boston and New York. Tucker retired from active business in 1924,<ref name="1931TuckerObit"/> retaining only his interests as director in a number of corporations, including the Knickerbocker Trust Company.<ref name="Who'swho1918">{{cite book |title=Who's who in New York City and State |date=1918 |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |page=1077 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o0sWAAAAYAAJ |access-date=17 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== thumb|right|Photograph of his daughter-in-law, Mona House, when she was presented to Court by Mrs. Choate, wife of the United States Ambassador, on 22 June 1904 In 1876, Tucker married Elizabeth Foster (1856–1937), a daughter of The Right Rev. Randolph Sinks Foster, Bishop of Ohio, and Sarah Ann ({{nee}} Miley) Foster.<ref name="1937MrsTuckerObit">{{cite news |title=MRS. WILLIAM A. TUCKER |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1937/03/06/archives/mrs-william-a-tucker.html |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=6 March 1937}}</ref> Together, they were the parents of three children:<ref name="1931TuckerObit"/>
* Ethel Tucker (1878–1942),<ref name="1942LadyLindsayObit">{{cite news |last1=TIMES |first1=Special to THE NEW YORK |title=LADY ETHEL LINDSAY; Daughter of Ex-Head of Tucker, Anthony & Co., Bankers, Dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/06/01/archives/lady-ethel-lindsay-daughter-of-exhead-of-tucker-a-anthony-co.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=1 June 1942}}</ref> who married Hon. Archibald Lionel Lindsay, second son of David Bethune, 11th Earl of Lindsay and Emily Marian Crosse,<ref name="Montague-Smith2000">{{cite book |last1=Montague-Smith |first1=Patrick W. |title=Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage |date=2000 |publisher=Debrett's Peerage Limited |page=1009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCQrAQAAIAAJ |access-date=19 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref> in 1900.<ref name="1900Wedding">{{cite news |title=SCOTTISH NOBLE TO WED A BOSTON GIRL. Hon. Archibald Lionel Lindsay Will Make Miss Ethel Tucker His Bride Today in Emmanuel Church |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-scottish-noble-to-wed-a/166241451/ |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=The Boston Globe |date=31 January 1900 |pages=8}}</ref> They divorced in 1906,<ref name="1906Divorce">{{cite news |title=DIVORCED FROM EARL'S SON. Papa-in-law Got Tired of Supporting Titled Husband |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-washington-post-divorced-from-earls/166241542/ |access-date=20 February 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=14 March 1906 |pages=11}}</ref><ref name="MacColl2012">{{cite book |last1=MacColl |first1=Gail |last2=Wallace |first2=Carol McD |title=To Marry an English Lord: Tales of Wealth and Marriage, Sex and Snobbery in the Gilded Age (An Inspiration for Downton Abbey) |date=15 March 2012 |publisher=Workman Publishing Company |isbn=978-0-7611-7198-0 |page=353 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rr7MRSed7h8C&pg=PA353 |access-date=20 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref> and she married Ezra C. Fitch Jr., son of Ezra Charles Fitch, president of the Waltham Watch Company, in November 1906. After Fitch's death in 1917,<ref name="1921Wedding"/> she remarried her first husband, Archibald, in 1921,<ref name="1921Wedding">{{cite news |title=MRS FITCH REMARRIED TO HER FIRST HUSBAND. Former Ethel Tucker Becomes Bride of Hon Archibald Lionel Bethune, Whom She Divorced 16 Years Ago |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-mrs-fitch-remarried-to/166599036/ |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=The Boston Globe |date=18 May 1921 |pages=1, 3}}</ref><ref name="1921Reweds">{{cite news |title=REWEDS DIVORCED WIFE AFTER 16 YEARS; Archibald L. Lindsay, Earl's Brother, and Mrs. Ezra C. Fitch Jr., Widow, Marry Again. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1921/05/18/archives/reweds-divorced-wife-after-16-years-archibald-l-lindsay-earls.html?searchResultPosition=8 |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=18 May 1921}}</ref> before he inherited the earldom from his elder brother, Reginald, in 1939.<ref>{{cite news |title=Earl and Countess of Lindsay Here. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1919/07/26/archives/earl-and-countess-of-lindsay-here.html?searchResultPosition=2 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=26 July 1919}}</ref><ref name="1942LadyLindsayObit"/> * Randolph "Ralph" Foster Tucker (1879–1971), who married Mona Louise House, a daughter of "Col" Edward M. House and Elizabeth Louisa "Loulie" ({{nee}} Hunter) House.<ref name="ColHObit1938">{{cite news |title=COLONEL HOUSE DIES HERE AT AGE OF 79; Wilson's Adviser in the Days of World War Succumbs in Sleep--Mourned by Statesmen Family Summoned to Room Known as "Man of Mystery" COLONEL HOUSE DIES HERE AT AGE OF 79 In the Governorship Days House's Political Training Campaign for Bryan's Support Advice to Wilson on Harvey Part in Formation of Cabinet His Impressions of Wilson. Estimate In Retrospect Found Us Ripe for Dictatorship |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/03/29/archives/colonel-house-dies-here-at-age-of-79-wilsons-adviser-in-the-days-of.html?searchResultPosition=7 |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=29 March 1938}}</ref> Her sister, Janet House,<ref name="JHAObit1977">{{cite news |title=JANET H. AUCHINCLOSS, LAWYER'S WIDOW, DIES |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/17/archives/janet-h-auchincloss-lawyers-widow-dies.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=17 January 1977}}</ref> married Gordon Auchincloss (brother of Charles C. Auchincloss and U.S. Representative James C. Auchincloss).<ref name="1943GAObit">{{cite news |title=AUCHINCLOSS DIES; AIDE TO COL. HOUSE; New York Attorney Acted as Secretary to Father-in-Law at Peace Conference SERVED IN FEDERAL POSTS Was Special Assistant to the Attorney General, Later in the State Department |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1943/04/17/archives/auchinclo-dies-aide-to-60l-house-new-york-attorney-acted-as.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=17 April 1943}}</ref> * Marion Tucker (1882–1941), who died unmarried.<ref name="1941Estate">{{cite news |title=MRS. PRENDERGAST TO SHARE IN AUNTS ESTATE |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=JCR19411211-01.2.16&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------ |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=The Jefferson County Republican |issue=24 |date=December 11, 1941}}</ref>
While spending the summer in Southampton, New York, he became ill and, after several weeks, Tucker died on October 25, 1931 at 399 Park Avenue, his home in New York. He was buried at Trinity Church Cemetery in New York.<ref name="1931TuckerObit">{{cite news |title=W.A. TUCKER DEAD; RETIRED FINANCIER; An Organizer and Former Senior Partner in Tucker, Anthony & Co., Bankers and Brokers. MEMBER OF OLD FAMILY Ancestor Came to Massachusetts in 1635 and Helped to Found Town of Milton. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/10/26/archives/wa-tucker-dead-retired-financier-an-organizer-and-former-senior.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=26 October 1931}}</ref> His widow died, also at 399 Park Avenue, in March 1937.<ref name="1937MrsTuckerObit"/>
===Descendants=== Through his son Ralph, he was a grandfather of Jane Tucker (1907–1982), who married Hamilton Osgood Warren (a son of Fiske Warren and Gretchen Osgood Warren) and the Rev. George Prendergast (rector of an Episcopal parish in San Diego),<ref name="GJPObit2000">{{cite news |title=PRENDERGAST, GEORGE J., JR. |url=https://www.courant.com/2000/11/27/prendergast-george-j-jr/ |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=Hartford Courant |date=27 November 2000}}</ref><ref name="Lloyd1956">{{cite book |last1=Lloyd |first1=Frederic Ebenezer John |last2=Stowe |first2=Andrew David |last3=Fish |first3=Grace Stowe |title=The Clerical Directory of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America |date=1956 |publisher=Church Hymnal Corporation |page=328 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FyO8nZa7bBIC |access-date=20 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Johnson2020">{{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Susan Lee |title=Writing Kit Carson: Fallen Heroes in a Changing West |date=28 October 2020 |publisher=UNC Press Books |isbn=978-1-4696-5884-1 |page=304 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EWHdDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA304 |access-date=20 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref> and Randolph Foster Tucker Jr. (1914–1936), who died in a car accident.<ref name="RTJrObit1936">{{cite news |last1=TIMES |first1=Special to THE NEW YORK |title=KIN OF COL. HOUSE KILLED; Car of Randolph Tucker Jr. Hits Oil Truck, Which Explodes. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1936/04/12/archives/kin-of-col-house-killed-car-of-randolph-tucker-jr-hits-oil-truck.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=12 April 1936}}</ref>
Through his daughter Ethel, he was a grandfather of William Lindesay-Bethune, 14th Earl of Lindsay, who married Marjory Cross in 1925 and was the father of four, including David Lindesay-Bethune, 15th Earl of Lindsay.<ref name="Mosley2003">Mosley, Charles, editor. ''Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes.'' Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003, volume 2, page 2344.</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tucker, William Austin}} Category:1850 births Category:1931 deaths Category:Bankers from New York City Category:American financial company founders Category:American financiers Category:19th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:Gilded Age