Philip Hone (1780-1851)

He was born in New York City and was a first cousin of Magdalena Will who was married first to the influential merchant Henry A. Coster and second to the celebrated Dr. David Hosack. Hone was a successful merchant who became the Mayor of New York City from 1826 to 1827. He contributed generously to the original Mercantile Library Building and many other similar enterprises. However, he is arguably best remembered as a socialite, but more importantly a diarist: the diary that he kept from 1828 until his death is reputed to be the most extensive and detailed of its kind, depicting the lifestyle of a politically and socially prominent New Yorker in the first half of the 19th century. He was an intimate friend from youth with the likes of Washington Irving and Henry Brevoort. He lived at 235 Broadway in the house next to William Rhinelander at No. 243. His home was noted for its fine furnishings and the many objets d'art he'd collected on his travels abroad. He married Catherine, daughter of Daniel Dunscomb and sister-in-law of Brigadier-General Robert Swartout. They were the parents of four children (listed).

His home (see images) opposite City Hall Park was described as: "a deep, roomy, cheerful dwelling, with a broad entrance-hall, wainscoted walls, high old-fashioned carved sideboards, enormous mirrors, tall silver candlesticks, the finest of cut glass, and the rarest of ancient and costly porcelain. It was adorned with many subjects of foreign art collected in Europe, Hone having travelled extensively, and it contained a well-chosen and costly library. His entertainments were princely. He took a special delight in extending hospitalities to strangers of distinction, and could always summon to his aid the genius, wit, beauty, and fashion of the metropolis... Mrs. H was a lady of many gifts and graces."