John Carey (1821-1881)
of 19 East 34th Street, New York City & "Grassland" Newport, Rhode Island
He was born in London and came to America in 1830 with his father, a noted botanist associated with Asa Gray who lived in North America until 1852. He graduated from Columbia College where he was a classmate of his future brother-in-law, John Jacob Astor. He practised as a civil engineer up until his opportune marriage in 1850. After marrying Alida Astor, he focused his time on managing their extensive properties and at about the same time purchased "Grassland," an estate at the corner of Naragansett Avenue and Spring Street in Newport. He and his wife lived in Europe for several years, notably in Germany, while their children were being educated there. On returning to the States, they wintered in their brownstone at 19 East 34th Street (on the corner of Madison Avenue) in New York and summered at "Grassland," Newport.
