William Wainwright

William Wainwright (1836, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – August 14, 1904, Brooklyn, New York) was a real-estate developer who was largely responsible in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for the transformation of Rockaway Beach, New York City, into a major resort and amusement area.

Biography

Wainwright was born in Philadelphia in 1836. At the age of 15, he moved to New York in order to find work. He worked in the mailing room of The New York Times for a few years. Wainwright rebuilt the Seaside House even larger than before. The fire spread and ended up killing four people, injuring four other people, and destroying many of the properties owned by Wainwright. Wainwright was determined to rebuild.

Wainwright died in his home at 842 Union Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, on August 14, 1904. The cause of death was an attack of gastritis.