Herbert M. Sears

Herbert Mason Sears (November 12, 1867 – February 19, 1942) was an American yachtsman and businessman in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the commodore of the Eastern Yacht Club and owner of numerous yachts, including the Constellation.

Sears was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Medal of French Gratitude for his work with the American Red Cross during World War I.

Early life Sears was born on November 12, 1867, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was from a prominent New England family, a Mayflower descendant of the Sawyer family line His paternal grandfather was David Sears, the developer of Longwood. His twin brother was sculptor Phillip Sears and his older brother was professional tennis player Richard Sears. While there, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, aka The Dickey Club.

From 1888 to 1891, he served with the First Corps Cadets.

He was the president of the Fifty Associates real estate firm. He owned the steam yacht Augusta, and had the sloop Alert built in 1902, which was designed by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff.

Sears' pride was the schooner yacht Constellation, designed by Edward Burgess and originally built for Edwin D. Morgan. Sears purchased it in 1914. Constellation served as the flagship of the Eastern Yacht Club, leading the fleet in all club races and regattas, and was known as the "Queen of the Eastern". Constellation set many records. Constellation's wheel and transom were save and presented to the yacht club. Hazard 1897 Gaff sloop Herreshoff Company Bristol, Rhode Island Nathanael Greene Herreshoff built for Sears Alert 1902 Sloop Herreshoff Company Bristol, Rhode Island Nathanael Greene Herreshoff built for Sears Skidoo 1906 Gaff sloop Herreshoff Company Bristol, Rhode Island Nathanael Greene Herreshoff built for Sears Cricket| Sloop yacht Mingo'''| Sonder Sears, along with other members of the Eastern Yacht Club, sponsored and privately financed the construction of Navy patrol boats for the war effort known as "The Eastern Yacht Club 62 footers". The boats were designed by Albert Loring Swasey and Nathanael Greene Herreshoff.

In 1917, at the age of 50, Sears volunteered and spent eight months at the front in France near Dixmude, serving as part of the American Red Cross. He was in charge of France's first American Red Cross canteen at the front.

After returning from France, his wrote of his experience in the book Journal of a Canteen Worker: A Record of Service with the American Red Cross''.

Personal life Sears married Caroline Bartlett (1870–1908) in 1891. The couple had two daughters, Elizabeth and Phyllis. Phyllis married Bayard Tuckerman Jr., a horseman and one of the founders of Suffolk Downs racetrack in East Boston. Their son, and Sear's grandson, was the politician Herbert Sears Tuckerman.

The Sears family's primary Boston residence was on 287 Commonwealth Avenue, designed by the architecture firm Rotch and Tilden. Sears had the house constructed in 1892, and continued to live there until his death. The painting now resides in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum. In addition to the Eastern Yacht Club, he belonged to the Boston Athletic Association, Knickerbocker Club, the New York Yacht Club, the Somerset Club, and the Tennis and Racquet Club.

Sears died at his home in Boston on February 19, 1941, at the age of 74. He was buried in the Mount Auburn Cemetery.