Thomas B. Lockwood

Thomas Brown Lockwood (February 7, 1873 – August 19, 1947) was an American lawyer, banker, politician, and philanthropist from Western New York.

Early life Lockwood was born in Buffalo, New York on February 7, 1873 and grew up in his parents' mansion on Niagara Street in Buffalo. He was the son of attorney and U.S. Representative Daniel N. Lockwood, and the former Sarah Brown (1847–1898), daughter of Thomas Brown. His sister, Elizabeth Lockwood, was the wife of Bronson C. Rumsey.

In the 1914 New York state election, he beat William Gorham Rice in the Democratic primary to secure the Lieutenant Governor nomination under sitting Governor Martin H. Glynn, the first Irish American Roman Catholic governor of New York. Both Lockwood and Glynn lost in the general election to Republicans Edward Schoeneck and Charles S. Whitman, respectively.

Personal life

Lookwood was married three times throughout his life. His first marriage was in 1899 to Marion Doon Lobdell (1877–1900), a daughter of the Dr. Francis Lobdell, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Buffalo. She died at her mother's home on Ashland Avenue on June 3, 1900, and her funeral was held at the family home at 465 Niagara Street.

On November 1, 1904, who married Marion Birge (1881–1932), a daughter of Carrie ( Humphrey) Birge and George K. Birge, founder and president of the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company, at the home of her parents. Her sister, Allithea Birge Cary was the wife of architect George Cary. In 1918, Lockwood bought and remodeled 844 Delaware Avenue, which had been built in 1888 and, today, is a contributing property to the Delaware Avenue Historic District. After the death of his wife in 1932, he married Mildred ( Frances) McGuire, a daughter of Thomas Francis, on November 20, 1934, who survived him. He was buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo. His widow sold their house for $52,000 to the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo in 1950.

Philanthropy In 1935, he gifted his collection of rare books, manuscripts and autographs valued at $500,000 to the University of Buffalo. At the time, it was said that "only Harvard, Yale and the University of Michigan would own more comprehensive collections of first editions and other rare books."