Ernest Howard Crosby (1856-1907)

He was born in New York City, the grandson of an early millionaire and a first cousin of Schuyler Crosby, a member of Mrs. Astor's "Four Hundred." He graduated from Columbia Law School and went into practice as a lawyer. He accepted an invitation to run for the New York State Assembly, which he won, and championed the cause of fighting child labor, gaining a reputation as a socialist and political activist. Somewhat concerned by the path he was taking, his in-laws used their influence with President Harrison to have his talents put to good use somewhere less close to home and he was duly appointed a Judge on the Mixed Tribunals Court in Alexandria, Egypt. But, witnessing the poverty all around him, this only served to further fuel his socialist views and after reading Tolstoy's My Life he travelled to Warsaw and Moscow where he and Tolstoy became firm friends. Crosby returned to New York more determined than ever in his attitudes against imperialism and military power, planning to spend the rest of his life away from society while working to bring about a more peaceful order. To the horror of his wife and mother-in-law, he began to entertain Marxists at home, prompting his wife to purchase Grasmere in 1894, ostensibly as somewhere he could focus on his writing, but more to keep him out of trouble and save any further embarrassments. His wife, Fanny, was the last surviving child of Henry Maunsell Schieffelin, of 665 Fifth Avenue & Ashton, New York. They had two children including the 5th Lady Huntingfield.