Henry Whelen (1848-1907)

He was born at Philadelphia, the nephew of the founder of the brokerage firm that became known as Townsend Whelen & Co. (listed at 39 Wall Street, New York) when his father succeeded as head of the company. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1866 but still a Midshipman after six years, he resigned and was made a nominal member of the family firm. His real passions lay with art and music and after serving as Treasurer for sixteen years, he was elected President of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He was also Treasurer of the Rittenhouse Club, the Protestant Episcopal Divinity School, and a director and Treasurer of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He had been an active supporter of bringing Grand Opera to Philadelphia since 1895, and was credited as, "the owner of the finest collection of engravings and Washington prints in existence". He lived between 1709 Locust Street, Philadelphia, and his country estate, "Clovely" or "Clovelydale" in Devon, Pennsylvania. He married Laura, daughter of William Spohn Baker, and had 3-children: (1) William, married Virgina Arter of Pittsburgh (2) Elsie, Mrs Robert Goelet, and afterwards Mrs Henry Clews who created the Chateau de la Napoule (3) Laura, married Craig Biddle, grandson of Anthony Drexel.