{{Short description|Captain in the United States Army}} {{Infobox person | name = William Corcoran Eustis | image = File:Eustice 3121123268 bf067ac64e o.jpg | image_size = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1862|7|20}} | birth_place = [[Paris, France]] | death_date = {{Death date and age|1921|11|24|1862|7|20}} | death_place = [[New York City]], [[U.S.]] | resting_place = [[Oak Hill Cemetery (Washington, D.C.)|Oak Hill Cemetery]]<br />[[Washington, D.C.]], U.S. | occupation = Soldier | known_for = | alma_mater = [[University of Virginia]]<br>[[Harvard Law School]] | spouse = {{marriage|Edith Livingston Morton<br>|1900|<!-- Omission per Template:Marriage instructions -->}} | children = 5 | parents = [[George Eustis Jr.]]<br>Louis Morris Corcoran Eustis | relatives = [[George Eustis Sr.]] (grandfather)<br>[[William Wilson Corcoran|William Corcoran]] (grandfather)<br> [[Wendy Pepper]] (great-granddaughter) }}
'''William Corcoran Eustis''' (July 20, 1862 – November 24, 1921) was a scion of wealthy families who became a diplomat then captain in the [[United States Army]] and the [[personal assistant]] to [[John J. Pershing|General John J. Pershing]] during [[World War I]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B01EFD9113CE533A25756C2A9679D946095D6CF |title=Wm. Corcoran Eustis Dies. Former Diplomat was Captain on Gen. Pershing's staff | date=November 25, 1921 |work=[[New York Times]] }}</ref> Eustis chaired the inauguration committee for the [[first inauguration of Woodrow Wilson]] in 1913 and started the Loudoun Hunt in 1894.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wilson Favors Omitting Ball |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/780997272.html?dids=780997272:780997272&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+17%2C+1913&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=WILSON+FAVORS+OMITTING+BALL&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022082303/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/780997272.html?dids=780997272:780997272&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+17,+1913&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=WILSON+FAVORS+OMITTING+BALL&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |quote=President-elect Wilson favors the abolishment of the inaugural ball. This became known today when he sent a letter to William Corcoran Eustice at Washington, chairman of the inauguration committee, asking him to consider the feasibility of omitting the ball as a ... |work=[[Hartford Courant]] |date=January 17, 1913 |access-date=2009-08-27 }}</ref>
==Early life== He was born on July 20, 1862, in [[Paris]] to former [[U.S. Representative]] [[George Eustis Jr.]] (1828–1872) and Louise Morris "Lulie" ([[née]] Corcoran) Eustis (1838–1867), who married in April 1859. His brother was George Peabody Eustis and his younger sister was Louise Marie Eustis, who married [[polo]] player [[Thomas Hitchcock Sr.]]<ref name="1891Wedding">{{cite news|title=LOUISE MARY EUSTIS MARRIED.; THE HAPPY BRIDEGROOM IS THOMAS HITCHCOCK, JR., OF THIS CITY.|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1891/08/28/103331823.pdf |access-date=15 May 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=28 August 1891}}</ref><ref name="THSrObit1941">{{cite news|last1=Times|first1=Special To The New Tobk|title=T. HITCHCOCK SR, SPORTSMAN, DEAD; Head of a Family Long Noted in Polo, Steeplechase and Hunting Circles|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E02EED8123BEF3ABC4850DFBF66838A659EDE&legacy=true|access-date=15 May 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=30 September 1941}}</ref>
His grandfather [[George Eustis Sr.]] was Chief Justice of the [[Louisiana Supreme Court]], and his grandmother Clarisse (née Allain) Eustis was the only surviving child of banker and philanthropist [[William Wilson Corcoran]], co-founder of the [[Riggs Bank]], and Louis (née Morris) Corcoran, a daughter of naval officer [[Charles Morris (naval officer)|Charles Morris]].<ref name="whitehousehistory">{{cite web |title=The Corcoran Mansion |url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-corcoran-mansion |website=www.whitehousehistory.org |publisher=[[The White House Historical Association]] |access-date=23 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> His paternal uncle was [[U.S. Senator]] and [[United States Ambassador to France|Ambassador to France]] [[James B. Eustis|James Biddle Eustis]].<ref name=obit/>
Eustis was educated at Shadwell School in [[Albemarle County, Virginia]], the Hanover Academy in [[Hanover County, Virginia]], before attending the [[University of Virginia]] from 1880 to 1882.<ref name="Barringer1904"/> He then attended [[Harvard Law School]], graduating in 1887.<ref name="Barringer1904"/>
==Career== After graduating from Harvard, "much of his time was taken up with the management of his large estate."<ref name="NYTObit1921"/> While [[Joseph Hodges Choate]] was the [[U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom]], Eustis served as the Third Secretary of the [[United States Embassy in London]] from 1901 to 1902.<ref name="Barringer1904"/>
During the [[World War I|first World War]], William was a personal secretary to General [[John J. Pershing]], achieving the rank of captain.<ref name="NYTObit1921"/>
==Personal life== On April 30, 1900, he married Edith Livingston Morton (1874–1964), a descendant of many prominent families, including the [[Livingston family]] of New York. Edith, a daughter of [[Anna Morton|Anna Livingston Reade (née Street) Morton]] and [[Levi Parsons Morton]], the 22nd [[Vice President of the United States|U.S. Vice President]] under [[Benjamin Harrison]], served as a member of the [[memorial]] commission for the [[District of Columbia War Memorial]].<ref name=obit/> Together Edith and William were the parents of five children, including:<ref name="Barringer1904">{{cite book |last1=Barringer, M.D. |first1=Paul Brandson |last2=Garnett, M.A. LL.D. |first2=James Mercer |title=University of Virginia; Its History, Influence, Equipment and Characteristics with Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Founders, Benefactors, Officers and Alumni, Vol. II |date=1904 |publisher=Lewis Publishing Company |location=New York |page=260 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BQM0Hid6ey0C&pg=PA260 |access-date=23 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
* Helen Louise Corcoran Eustis (1902–1979) * Margaret Morton Eustis (1903–1977), who married [[David Edward Finley]] in 1931.<ref name="1931Wedding">{{cite news |title=MARGARET EUSTIS WED TO DAVID E. FINLEY; Becomes Bride of Mellon Aide at Home of Mother, Mrs. W. Corcoran Eustis. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/06/11/102238168.pdf |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=11 June 1931}}</ref> He was the first director of the [[National Gallery of Art]], the founding chairman of the [[National Trust for Historic Preservation]], chairman of the [[U.S. Commission of Fine Arts]], and founding chairman of the [[White House Historical Association]].<ref name="DEFObit1977">{{cite news |last1=Saxon |first1=Wolfgang |title=David E. Finley Dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/02/archives/david-e-finley-dies-art-gallery-leader-director-of-museum-in.html |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2 February 1977}}</ref> * Morton Corcoran Eustis (1905–1944), who was killed in action at [[Domfront, Orne|Domfront]], [[Normandy]] during [[World War II]]. Before the War, he had been the associate editor of the ''[[Theatre Arts Magazine]]'' in New York.<ref name="MCEObit1944">{{cite news |title=M.C. EUSTIS IS KILLED; Grandson of Levi P. Morton Dies in Action in France |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1944/09/02/88608477.pdf |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2 September 1944}}</ref> * Edith Celestine Eustis (1912–1936), who died, unmarried, aged 23.<ref name="ECCObit1936">{{cite news |title=Edith C. Eustis, 23, Member of Noted Families, Is Dead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34163366/edith_c_eustis_23_member_of_noted/ |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=13 Apr 1936 |language=en}}</ref> In 1932, she had been engaged, but not wed, to Lieut. Hubert Winthrop Chanler, son of [[Winthrop Astor Chanler]].<ref name="1932Engagement">{{cite news |title=MISS EDITH EUSTIS ENGAGED TO MARRY; Her Betrothal to Lieut, Hubert Winthrop Chanfer Announced by Her Mother. BOTH OF NOTED ANCESTRY Bride-Elect, Now in Santa Fe, N. M., Is a Granddaughter of the Late Levi P. Morton. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/09/08/100802856.pdf |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=8 September 1932}}</ref> * Anne Livingston Eustis (1915–1989), who married Grenville Temple Emmet Jr. (1909–1989), son of [[U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands|U.S. Minister to the Netherlands]] [[Grenville T. Emmet]] in 1937.<ref name="1937Announcement">{{cite news |title=Miss Anne Eustis of Washington Engaged To Grenville Temple Emmet Jr., Attorney |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/09/02/94420171.pdf |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2 September 1937}}</ref><ref name="1937Engagement">{{cite news |title=MISS ANNE L. EUSTIS TO BE BRIDE NOV. 20; Her Marriage to Grenville T. Emmet Jr. Will Take Place in Washington Home |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/10/27/94447642.pdf |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=27 October 1937}}</ref>
He laid the cornerstone for the [[Corcoran Gallery of Art]] on May 10, 1894, which his grandfather funded. He was a member of the [[Metropolitan Club (Washington, D.C.)|Metropolitan Club]], the [[Alibi Club]], the [[Knickerbocker Club]], and the [[Meadowbrook Polo Club|Meadowbrook Club]] on [[Long Island]].<ref name="Barringer1904"/> Eustis and his wife Edith were dedicated patrons of the [[Church of Our Saviour, Oatlands|Church of Our Saviour]], the historic congregation on the Oatlands property<ref name="adams-oatlands">{{cite book |last1=Adams |first1=Augusta |title=The Church of Our Saviour |date=2001 |publisher=The Church of Our Saviour Oatlands |location=Leesburg, Virginia |url=https://archive.org/details/churchofoursavio0000augu/ |pages=16–24 |access-date=6 November 2023}}</ref>
===Thoroughbred racing=== William Eustis owned and raced [[Thoroughbred]] horses. In addition to riding [[polo pony|polo ponies]], he was a very capable amateur Thoroughbred rider. As part of the undercard for the May 29, 1897 [[Belmont Stakes]] won by [[Scottish Chieftain (horse)|Scottish Chieftain]] at [[Morris Park Racecourse]], William Eustis rode Hawarden in the one mile Amateur Cup. A race for "gentlemen riders," he finished third to winner Diversion ridden by [[Foxhall Keene]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WpE3AAAAMAAJ&q=Eustis&pg=RA2-PA240 |title=The Turf - At Westchester |publisher=The Tribune Almanac and Political Register for 1898, page 240 |date=1897-05-29 |access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref> Among the [[stakes race]]s Eustis won with some of his horses were the [[Advance Stakes]] and the [[Pansy Stakes]] in 1899.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/drf1899070201 |title=Coney Island Form Chart |publisher=Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives |date=1899-07-02 |access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1899/07/04/archives/racing-at-sheepshead-bay-sadducee-disqualified-in-a-race-in-which.html |title=Racing at Sheepshead Bay |publisher=New York Times, page 5 |date=1899-07-04 |access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref>
===Passing=== Eustis died at the Hotel Belmont in [[New York City]], en route to the former country home of his father-in-law in [[Rhinecliff, New York]], on November 24, 1921, of [[pneumonia]] due to complications related to the [[1918 flu pandemic|Spanish Flu]],<ref name="NYTObit1921">{{cite news |title=Wm. Corcoran Eustis Dies. Former Diplomat Was a Captain on Gen. Pershing's Staff |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1921/11/25/103576847.pdf |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 November 1921}}</ref> which he contracted during the war.<ref name=obit>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/284290652.html?dids=284290652:284290652&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=NOV+25%2C+1921&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=W.+C.+EUSTIS+DIES+ON+NEW+YORK+TRIP&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525135457/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/284290652.html?dids=284290652:284290652&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=NOV+25,+1921&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=W.+C.+EUSTIS+DIES+ON+NEW+YORK+TRIP&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |title=W. C. Eustis Dies On New York Trip. Succumbs to Recurrence of Pneumonia He Contracted During War Service. Funeral Arrangements Incomplete. Was Long Prominent in National Capital Affairs. Family and Friends at Bedside. Funeral Plans Not Completed. |quote=Capt. William Corcoran Eustis, of Washington, D. C., personal secretary to Gen. John J. Pershing during the war, died tonight following the recurrence of an attack of pneumonia contracted in France. He was 60 [sic] years old.| date=November 25, 1921 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] }}</ref> He was interred at [[Oak Hill Cemetery (Washington, D.C.)|Oak Hill Cemetery]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oakhillcemeterydc.org/app/themes/oakhill/assets/records/1-15.pdf |title=Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, D.C. (Corcoran) - Lots 1-15 |website=[[Oak Hill Cemetery (Washington, D.C.)|Oak Hill Cemetery]] |access-date=2022-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302174046/https://www.oakhillcemeterydc.org/app/themes/oakhill/assets/records/1-15.pdf |archive-date=2022-03-02 |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Descendants and legacy=== Eustis purchased and restored [[Oatlands Plantation]] in [[Leesburg, Virginia]]. Following the death of his widow in 1964, their daughters donated the property to the [[National Trust for Historic Preservation]].<ref name="Feldmeier2005"/><ref name="Ruhe1966">{{cite news |last1=Ruhe |first1=Benjamin |title=VIRGINIA MANSION; Oatlands House, Built Around 1800, Is Now a National Trust Property |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1966/09/25/89654178.pdf |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 September 1966}}</ref><ref>https://oatlands.org/eustis-era/</ref>
Through his youngest daughter Anne,<ref name="1973Engagement">{{cite news |title=Mrs. Anne Pepper to Be Wed Nov. 24 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/14/archives/mrs-anne-pepper-to-be-wed-nov-24.html |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=14 October 1973}}</ref> he was a great-grandfather to [[Wendy Pepper]], a contestant on [[Project Runway (season 1)|season 1]] of [[Project Runway]].<ref name="Feldmeier2005">{{cite news |last1=Feldmeier |first1=Julie |title=Middleburg Woman Pursues Fashionable Ambitions |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18447-2005Feb12.html |access-date=23 July 2019 |work=www.washingtonpost.com |date=February 13, 2005 |page=PW14}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{Find a Grave|35521117}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eustis, William Corcoran}} [[Category:1862 births]] [[Category:1921 deaths]] [[Category:Corcoran family|William Eustis]] [[Category:People from Leesburg, Virginia]] [[Category:Military personnel from Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:United States Army officers]] [[Category:American racehorse owners and breeders]] [[Category:University of Virginia alumni]] [[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]] [[Category:American expatriates in France]] [[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in New York City]] [[Category:Burials at Oak Hill Cemetery (Washington, D.C.)]]