Daniel S. Lamont

Daniel Scott Lamont (February 9, 1851 – July 23, 1905) was the United States Secretary of War during Grover Cleveland's second term.

Early life Lamont was born on his family's farm in McGraw, New York (then called McGrawville) on February 9, 1851. He was a son of John B. Lamont, a merchant from Cortlandville, and Elizabeth (née Scott) Lamont. Lamont, of Scotch ancestry, had a family lineage that could be traced back as far as 1250. He attended Union College at Schenectady, New York. While attending Union College, he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity.

Later life After his service as Secretary of War, Lamont was vice president of the Northern Pacific Railway Company from 1898 to 1904. He was also a director of numerous banks and corporations. In 1889, he went into business with William C. Whitney (Cleveland's Secretary of the Navy) and Oliver Hazard Payne (organizer of the American Tobacco trust).

In August 1904, he was considered as a candidate for Governor of New York, with The New York Times writing "Qualifying experience in large public and private affairs, ability and executive capacity already demonstrated in high office, and personal character quite above all impeachment or assault unmistakably designate Daniel S. Lamont as a fit candidate for the Democrats of New York to name for the Governorship."

Personal life Lamont was married to Juliet Kinney and had three surviving daughters, Frances, Elizabeth (Bessie), and Katherine. A fourth daughter, Julia, died in 1902 at 18 years old. Lamont spent his early summers in the Gray Gables neighborhood in Bourne, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, near where Grover Cleveland owned a house. Cleveland and Lamont were known to have many parties during the summers. His old house still stands. In 1888, he began spending his summers on the coast of Maine and bought a house in Sorrento known as Blueberry Lodge, which also still stands today.

Lamont died at his country home, Altamount in Millbrook, New York, on July 23, 1905, at aged 54. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, in The Bronx, New York City. After his death, his widow continued the family's close relationship with the Clevelands.