Bradley Martin (1841-1913)
of New York City, London & "Balmacaan" Inverness-shire
He was a great-grandson of Solomon Townsend and was born and brought up in Albany, New York. He graduated from Union University and became a lawyer. In the Civil War, he served as a Lieutenant with the 93rd National Guard of New York and was aide-de-camp to Governor Reuben Fenton. He and his wife (known as the "Bradley-Martins") were among the most conspicuous leaders of Gilded Age society and they are forever remembered for hosting "the most ostentatious ball in U.S. history". The Bradley-Martin Ball was held in 1897 at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City for 800-guests regaled in royal fancy dress. It cost the Bradley-Martins $369,200 but created such public resentment that the government responded by raising their property taxes.
In 1899, the Bradley-Martins took up permanent residence in Britain, keeping a townhouse in London next to their daughter's at 4 Chesterfield Gardens. As a summer home, they leased the Balmacaan estate near Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands from 1885 to 1913. The family hired their own private train to take them (and their silver and horses) up from London. The Bradley-Martins quickly became very popular among the locals, in contrast to the hereditary owners (the Earls of Seafield) they brought nearly 100% employment to the estate, hired a vast number of assistants, and paid for the construction of Blairbeg Hall where they hosted numerous entertainments including carnivals for the town's children. Under their tenancy, Balmacaan became one of the Scotland's best shooting estates, attracting visitors such as Grand Duke Michael of Russia. Martin is also responsible for the "Balmacaan" overcoat that he asked his tailor to make for him in London. The practical design quickly became fashionable among the British aristocracy and his tailor asked Martin's permission to call it a "Balmacaan" and had it trademarked.
He met his wife, Cornelia, in 1868 at the wedding of Emily Vanderbilt to William Douglas Sloane. She was the daughter and sole heiress of the self-made lumber merchant Isaac Sherman, prompting some within society to label the Bradley-Martins "arriviste". They were the parents of three children (listed). When he died in London, his American estate was valued at just over $1.2-million. His widow survived him and when she died in 1920 she left $4.4-million that was divided equally between their two surviving children, notably the Countess of Craven through whom they remain ancestors of the present Earl.
In 1899, the Bradley-Martins took up permanent residence in Britain, keeping a townhouse in London next to their daughter's at 4 Chesterfield Gardens. As a summer home, they leased the Balmacaan estate near Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands from 1885 to 1913. The family hired their own private train to take them (and their silver and horses) up from London. The Bradley-Martins quickly became very popular among the locals, in contrast to the hereditary owners (the Earls of Seafield) they brought nearly 100% employment to the estate, hired a vast number of assistants, and paid for the construction of Blairbeg Hall where they hosted numerous entertainments including carnivals for the town's children. Under their tenancy, Balmacaan became one of the Scotland's best shooting estates, attracting visitors such as Grand Duke Michael of Russia. Martin is also responsible for the "Balmacaan" overcoat that he asked his tailor to make for him in London. The practical design quickly became fashionable among the British aristocracy and his tailor asked Martin's permission to call it a "Balmacaan" and had it trademarked.
He met his wife, Cornelia, in 1868 at the wedding of Emily Vanderbilt to William Douglas Sloane. She was the daughter and sole heiress of the self-made lumber merchant Isaac Sherman, prompting some within society to label the Bradley-Martins "arriviste". They were the parents of three children (listed). When he died in London, his American estate was valued at just over $1.2-million. His widow survived him and when she died in 1920 she left $4.4-million that was divided equally between their two surviving children, notably the Countess of Craven through whom they remain ancestors of the present Earl.
