W. Averell Harriman

Birth Name: William Averell Harriman

Date of Birth: November 15, 1891

Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

Date of Death: July 26, 1986

Place of Death: Yorktown Heights, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, Dutch, some French, distant Scottish

W. Averell Harriman was an American politician, businessperson, and diplomat. A member of the Democratic Party, since 1928, he was U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, from October 23, 1943 to January 24, 1946, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, from April 30, 1946 to October 1, 1946, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, from October 7, 1946 to April 22, 1948, and Governor of New York, from January 1, 1955 to December 31, 1958.

He was a candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1952 and 1956.

W. was the son of Mary Williamson (Averell), a philanthropist, and E. H. Harriman (Edward Henry Harriman), a railroad executive. His siblings were E. Roland Harriman, a financier and philanthropist, and Mary Harriman Rumsey, who founded The Junior League for the Promotion of Settlement Movements.

W. was married to art collector Marie Norton Harriman, until her death, and to socialite Pamela Harriman (born Pamela Beryl Digby), until his death. W. had two children with his first wife, Kitty Lanier Lawrence.

W.’s paternal grandfather was The Rev. Orlando Harriman (the son of Orlando Harriman and Ann Ingland). W.’s grandfather The Rev. Orlando was an Episcopal clergyman. W.’s great-grandfather Orlando was born in London, England.

W.’s paternal grandmother was Cornelia Neilson (the daughter of John Neilson III and Abigail Bleecker). Cornelia was born in New York. John was the son of Gen. John Neilson, Jr. and Catharine Schuyler van Voorhees. Abigail was the daughter of Anthony Lispenard Bleecker and Mary Noel, who was born in Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain.

W.’s maternal grandfather was William John Averell (the son of James Averell III). W.’s grandfather William was born in New York, and was a banker, and president of the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad. James was the son of James Averell II and Marcy Holt.

W.’s maternal grandmother was Mary Lawrence Williamson.

Sources: Genealogy of W. Averell Harriman – https://www.geni.com

Death record of W.’s mother – https://www.familysearch.org