William Rhinelander (1753-1825)
Sugar Merchant, of Rhinelander & Sons, Sugar Refiners, of New York
He was born in New York City. His grandfather, Philip Jacob Rhinelander (1686-1778), emigrated from Alsace after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes and acquired significant land in Manhattan and around Yorkville. William and his brothers managed their grandfather's real estate and in 1790 they purchased the Cuyler sugar house in New York (used as a British prison during the revolution) which subsequently became the well-known Rhinelander Sugar Refinery. They were also brewers and traded in cutlery and glassware. From 1810 until his death, William lived at No. 243 Broadway, in the house next door to Philip Hone, political diarist and former Mayor of New York City. In 1785, William married Mary, daughter of Colonel Robert who fought alongside Washington during the Revolution. William and Mary were the parents of seven children. Their eccentric grand-daughter, Gertrude, built 867 Madison Avenue.
