James Carson Brevoort (1818-1887)
J. Carson Brevoort, of "Brevoort House" Brooklyn, New York
He was born in New York City to prominent parents and was educated in Switzerland and Paris. He graduated (1837) as a civil engineer from the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures de Paris, but began his career as private secretary to Washington Irving (one of his father's oldest friends) in Madrid while Irving was U.S. Minister to Spain. Returning to New York in 1844, he took over management of his father-in-law's extensive property portfolio which allowed him time to pursue his scholarly interests in history, entomology, and ichthyology - publishing Notes on Some Japanese Fish in 1856. He was made a trustee and Superintendent of the Astor Library. He was President of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York and a member of the Brooklyn Board of Education, and the Board of Water Commissioners. He co-founded and was the first President of the Long Island Historical Society.
He lived in Brooklyn in the mansion (see images) inherited from his father-in-law which then became known as "Brevoort House". He was a well-known collector of rare books. From his father, he inherited about 6,000 volumes, mostly Americana, which were collected in Europe during the turbulent years of 1810 until 1832. He added to the collection so that by 1875 it contained about 10,000 volumes, many of them very rare and costly. In 1845, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Judge Lefferts and a granddaughter of Lt.-Colonel Robert Benson, also of Brooklyn, whose brother, Egbert, was one of the founders and the first President of the New-York Historical Society. They had one son.
He lived in Brooklyn in the mansion (see images) inherited from his father-in-law which then became known as "Brevoort House". He was a well-known collector of rare books. From his father, he inherited about 6,000 volumes, mostly Americana, which were collected in Europe during the turbulent years of 1810 until 1832. He added to the collection so that by 1875 it contained about 10,000 volumes, many of them very rare and costly. In 1845, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Judge Lefferts and a granddaughter of Lt.-Colonel Robert Benson, also of Brooklyn, whose brother, Egbert, was one of the founders and the first President of the New-York Historical Society. They had one son.
