The Phipps family of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

is a prominent American family that descends from Henry Phipps Jr. (1839–1930), a businessman and philanthropist. His father was an English

shoemaker Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand, often by groups of shoemakers, or '' cordwainers'' (sometimes misidentified as cobblers, who repair shoes rather than make them). In the 18th cen ...

who immigrated in the early part of the 19th century to

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, before settling in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

. Phipps grew up with

Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie ( , ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the History of the iron and steel industry in the United States, American steel industry in the late ...

as a friend and neighbor. As an adult, he was Carnegie's business partner in the

Carnegie Steel Company Carnegie Steel Company was a steel-producing company primarily created by Andrew Carnegie and several close associates to manage businesses at steel mills in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area in the late 19th century. The company was formed in ...

and became a very wealthy man. He was the company's second-largest shareholder and also invested in real estate. After selling his stock in Carnegie Steel, Phipps became a leading advocate of housing for the poor and a major

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

. He embraced the principle that those who have achieved great wealth should give back for the public good and create institutions dedicated to that purpose. Phipps and his wife Anne had five children: Amy, John S., Helen, Henry Carnegie, and Howard.

Business activities

In 1907, Phipps established the Bessemer Trust Company to manage his substantial assets that would be shared by his offspring following his death. Phipps was also one of the pioneer investors in

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

real estate. At one time, he and his family owned one-third of the town of Palm Beach, 28 miles of oceanfront between Palm Beach and

Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale ( ) is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and most populous city in Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the 2020 census, making it ...

, prime bayfront property in downtown

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

, and 75 square miles of land in Martin County. The Phipps family donated to the town of Palm Beach one of the most significant gifts in county history: an ocean-to-lake frontage property that is now known as Phipps Park. Another contribution was the

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden set in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a City of Pittsburgh historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The gardens w ...

in Pittsburgh. The Phipps family owned country estates in

Old Westbury, New York Old Westbury is a village in the towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 4,671 at the 2010 census. The Incorporated Village of Old Westbury ...

, on the Gold Coast, the stretch of land on the North Shore of

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...

that once held the greatest concentration of wealth and power in America. Phipps built a mansion on 115 acres in

Lake Success, New York Lake Success is a Administrative divisions of New York#Village, village in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, on the North Shore (Long Island), North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The populat ...

(also on the Gold Coast), which he used from its completion in 1919 until his death in 1930. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, John Phipps and his wife Margarita arranged for the home to be used to house British evacuees. In 1949, the family donated the property to the

Great Neck School District Great Neck Public Schools is a public school district serving students residing in specific areas of Great Neck, North New Hyde Park, North Hills, and Manhasset Hills, New York. It is Union Free School District Number 7 in the Town of Nor ...

. The mansion was converted into the administration building for the district, and Great Neck South High School and South Middle School were built on the site.

Legacy

By 1974, Bessemer Trust Company developed an expertise in

wealth management Wealth management (WM) or wealth management advisory (WMA) is an investment advisory service that provides financial management and wealth advisory services to a wide array of clients ranging from affluent to high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-hi ...

that allowed it to take on other clients through the creation of a national

bank A bank is a financial institution that accepts Deposit account, deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital m ...

headquartered in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. Phipps' grandchildren, from his son John S. Phipps, donated to the public the Westbury House estate that is now known as Old Westbury Gardens.

Gladys Mills Phipps Gladys Mills Phipps (June 19, 1883 – October 19, 1970) was an American socialite, sportsperson, and a thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder who began the Phipps family dynasty in American horse racing. She was known as the "first lady of th ...

, granddaughter of

Darius Ogden Mills Darius Ogden Mills (September 25, 1825 – January 3, 1910) was a prominent American banker and philanthropist. For a time, he was California's wealthiest citizen. Early life Mills was born in North Salem, in Westchester County, New York, t ...

and wife of Henry Carnegie Phipps, was prominent among horse breeders and owners in American

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

, as were her son, daughters and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She founded Wheatley Stable with her brother, Ogden Livingston Mills. First cousins Ogden Mills (Dinny) Phipps and Stewart Janney III's horse Orb won the 2013

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

Lineage

Family members include: * Henry Phipps Jr. (1839-1930), owner of Bonnie Blink, Lake Success * Lawrence C. Phipps (1862-1958), nephew of Henry W., United States Senator from Colorado. * Amy Phipps Guest (1872-1959), daughter of Henry W. Phipps Jr., owner of Templeton, Old Westbury and Villa Artemis, Palm Beach, sponsor of

Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart ( ; July 24, 1897 – January 5, 1939) was an American aviation pioneer. On July 2, 1937, she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world. During her li ...

John Shaffer Phipps John Shaffer Phipps (August 11, 1874 – April 27, 1958) was an American lawyer and businessman who was an heir to the Phipps family fortune and a shareholder of his father-in-law's Grace Shipping Lines. He was a director of the Manufacturer' ...

(1874-1958), oldest son of Henry W. Phipps Jr., owner of Westbury House, Old Westbury and Casa Bendita, Palm Beach * Helen Phipps Martin (1876-1934), daughter of Henry W. Phipps Jr., owner of Knole, Old Westbury * Henry Carnegie Phipps (1879-1953), son of Henry W. Phipps Jr., owner of Spring Hill, Old Westbury and Heamaw, Palm Beach * Howard Phipps (1881-1981), son of Henry W. Phipps Jr., owner of Erchless, Old Westbury *

(1883-1970), wife of Henry Carnegie Phipps * Lillian Bostwick Phipps (1906-1987), wife of Odgen Phipps * Ogden Phipps (1908-2002), son of Henry Carnegie Phipps * Cynthia Phipps (1945- 2007), daughter of Henry Carnegie Phipps * Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps (1940-2016), great-grandson of Henry W. Phipps Jr. * Raymond R. Guest (1907-1991), son of Amy Phipps Guest *

Winston Frederick Churchill Guest Winston Frederick Churchill Guest (May 20, 1906 – October 25, 1982) was an Anglo-American polo champion and a member of the Guest family of Britain. Early life Winston Frederick Churchill Guest was born on May 20, 1906, to Frederick Guest (187 ...

(1906-1982), son of Amy Phipps Guest * Diana Guest Manning (1909-1994), daughter of Amy Phipps Guest * Barbara Phipps Janney (1911-1987), daughter of Henry Carnegie Phipps * Stuart Symington Janney III (born 1948), great-grandson of Henry W. Phipps Jr., grandson of Henry Carnegie Phipps * Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff (born 1963), great-grandson of Henry W. Phipps Jr., grandson of Howard Phipps * Randolph Hobson Guthrie III (born 1967) * William Cattell Trimble III (born 1962), great-great-grandson of Henry Phipps., grandson of Barbara Phipps Janney

Family tree

*Henry Phipps Sr. ∞ Hannah Frank **John Phipps ** Henry Phipps Jr. (1839–1930) ∞ Anne Childs Shaffer (1850–1934) in 1872 *** Amy Phipps (1872–1959) ∞ Frederick Edward Guest (1875–1937) (grandson of John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough, and first cousin of

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

) in 1905 ****

(1906–1982) ∞ (1) Helena Woolworth McCann (granddaughter of

F. W. Woolworth Frank Winfield Woolworth (April 13, 1852 – April 8, 1919) was an American entrepreneur, the founder of F. W. Woolworth Company, and the operator of variety stores known as "Five-and-Dimes" (5- and 10-cent stores or dime stores) which featured a ...

) in 1934, div. 1944; ∞ (2) Lucy Douglas Cochran (1920–2003) in 1947 *****Winston Alexander Guest (b. 1936) ∞ Helen Mane Elizabeth Shields in 1967 ******Winston Frederick Churchill Guest (b. 1968) ******Helena Woolworth Guest (b. 1970) ******Spencer Randolph Harrison Guest (b. 1984) *****Frederick E. Guest II (b. 1938) ∞ (1) Stephanie Wanger in 1963 (2) Carole Baldoff in 1988 ******Victoria Woolworth Guest (b. 1966) ******Vanessa Wanger Guest (b. 1973) ******Frederick Edward Guest III (b. 1975) ******Andrew Churchill Guest (b. 1976) *****Alexander Michael Dudley Churchill Guest (b. 1954) ∞ Elizabeth Geacintov in 1986 ******Gregory Winston Churchill Guest (b. 1990) ***** Cornelia Cochrane Churchill Guest (b. 1963) **** Raymond Richard Guest (1907–1991) ∞ (1) Elizabeth ("Lily") Polk (daughter of Frank Polk) ∞ (2) Ellen Tuck French Astor in 1953 ∞ (3) Princess Caroline Cecile Alexandrine Jeanne Murat (1923–2012) (granddaughter of Joachim Napoléon Murat, 5th Prince Murat) *****Elizabeth Guest *****Raymond Richard Guest Jr. (1939–2001) *****Virginia Guest *****Achille Murat Guest ∞ Judith Wall *****Laetitia Amelia Guest ****Diana Henrietta Cornelia Guest (1909–1994) ∞ (1) Marc Sevastopoulo in 1934, div.; ∞ (2) Count Jean de Gaillard de la Valdène (1895–1977) in 1943, div.; (3) Allen Manning in 1970 *****Diane Lorraine Sevastopoulo (b. 1935) ∞ (1) Pierre Firmin-Didot in 1955 ∞ (2) Arthur Peter Perkins in 1967 ******Isabelle Marie Firmin-Didot (b. 1962) ******Christine Aimée Firmin-Didot (b. 1963) ∞ Antonio Bulridge in 1987 *****Guy Winston de Gaillard de la Valdène (b. 1944) ∞ Thérèse Anderson in 1965 ******Valery Elaine de la Valdène (1966–2014) ******Jean Pierre de la Valdène (b. 1967) *****Lorraine Aimee de Gaillard de la Valdène (b. 1946) ∞ Christian Odasso in 1978 ******Fréderic Christian Odasso (b. 1978) ******Diana Melody Christina Odasso (b. 1979) ***

(1874–1958) ∞ Margarita Celia Grace (daughter of Michael P. Grace) in 1903 **** John H. H. Phipps (1904–1982) ∞ Elinor Klapp Phipps *****John Eugene Phipps *****Colin Srinagar Phipps **** Hubert Beaumont Phipps (1905–1969) ∞ (1) Carla Gordon (d. 1950), her death; ∞ (2) Lady Pheobe Pleydell-Bouverie (1932–1995) (daughter of William Pleydell-Bouverie, 7th Earl of Radnor) in 1950, div. 1963 *****Melissa Adeane Phipps (b. 1955) *****Hubert Grace Phipps (b. 1957–2023) **** Margaret Phipps Boegner (1906–2006) ∞ (1) J. Gordon Douglas Jr. in 1930, div. 1947; ∞ (2) Etienne Boegner (d. 1985) in 1951 (son of

Marc Boegner Marc Boegner, commonly known as ''pasteur'' Boegner (; 21 February 1881 – 18 December 1970), was a French theologian, pastor, essayist, notable member of the French Resistance and a notable voice in the ecumenical movement. Biography Marc B ...

) *****J. Gordon Douglas III *****Dita Amory Douglas ∞ Alick David Yorke Naylor-Leyland (1929–1991) (son of Albert Edward Herbert Naylor-Leyland, 2nd Baronet) ******Nicholas Edward Naylor-Leyland **** Michael Grace Phipps (1910–1973) ∞ Muriel Fillans "Molly" Lane *****Susan Grace Phipps Cochran Santangelo Eigelberger *****Elaine Lane "Nonie" Phipps Schippers (1939–1973) ***Helen Margaret Phipps (1876–1934) ∞ Bradley Martin (brother-in-law of William Craven, 4th Earl of Craven) in 1904 *** Henry Carnegie Phipps (1879–1953) ∞ Gladys Livingston Mills (1883–1970) (twin sister of Beatrice Forbes, Countess of Granard) in 1907 **** Ogden Phipps (1908–2002) ∞ (1) Ruth Pruyn in 1930, div. 1935; ∞ (2) Lillian Stokes Bostwick McKim (1906–1987) in 1937 *****Henry Ogden Phipps (1931–1962) *****Robert Lansing (b. 1933) ***** Ogden Mills Phipps (1940–2016) *****Cynthia Phipps (1945–2007) ****Beatrice Audrey Phipps (1915-1992) ∞ Philip Dana Holden (1909–1973) ****Sonia Phipps (1919-2002) ∞ (1) N Farrell, div.; ∞ (2) Count Hans Christoph von Seherr-Thoss (1912–1992) **** Barbara Phipps (1911–1987) ∞ Stuart Symington Janney Jr. (1907–1988) *****Stuart Symington Janney III ∞ Lynn ******Matthew Janney ******Emily Janney ***Howard Phipps (1881–1981) ∞ Harriet Dyer Price (granddaughter of Alexander B. Dyer) in 1931 **** Howard Phipps Jr. **** Anne Phipps

Family Network

Associates

The following is a list of figures closely aligned with or subordinate to the Phipps family. *

* Thomas M. Carnegie *

William Ellis Corey William Ellis Corey (May 4, 1866 – May 11, 1934) was president of the Carnegie Steel Company from 1901 to 1903, and was president of the U.S. Steel from 1903 to 1911. Biography He was born in Braddock, Pennsylvania in 1866. In 1883, he marr ...

Henry Clay Frick Henry Clay Frick (December 19, 1849 – December 2, 1919) was an American industrialist, financier, and art patron. He founded the H. C. Frick & Company coke manufacturing company, was chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company and played a major ...

* Grace family *

Elbert Henry Gary Elbert Henry Gary (October 8, 1846August 15, 1927) was an American lawyer, county judge and business executive. He was a founder of U.S. Steel in 1901 alongside J. P. Morgan, William H. Moore, Henry Clay Frick and Charles M. Schwab. The cit ...

Freddie Guest Frederick Edward Guest, (14 June 1875 – 28 April 1937) was a British politician best known for being Chief Whip of Prime Minister David Lloyd George's Coalition Liberal Party, 1917–1921. He was also Secretary of State for Air between 1921 a ...

* Arthur B. Hancock Jr. * George Lauder Jr. * John George Alexander Leishman * Bradley Martin Jr. * Shug McGaughey * Ogden L. Mills *

Addison Mizner Addison Cairns Mizner ( ) (December 12, 1872 – February 5, 1933) was an American architect whose Mediterranean Revival Style architecture, Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, Spanish Colonial Revival style interpret ...

* Edward A. Neloy

Businesses

The following is a list of companies in which the Phipps family have held a controlling or otherwise substantial interest. *''Ayavalla Land Company'' *''Bessemer Properties'' * Bessemer Trust *

Bessemer Venture Partners Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) is an American venture capital and private equity firm headquartered in San Francisco. Outside the United States, it has offices in India, Israel, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. In 2024, Venture Capital Journa ...

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC West, West division. The team is headquartered in E ...

* '' The Fauquier Democrat'' *

Ingersoll Rand Ingersoll Rand Inc. is an American multinational company that provides flow creation and industrial products. The company was formed in February 2020 through the spinoff of the industrial segment of Ingersoll-Randplc (now known as Trane Technol ...

*''International Hydro-Electric System'' *

International Paper The International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 39,000 employees, and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. History The company was incorporated January 31 ...

*''New England Power Association'' *''Orchard Pond Organics'' *''Palm Beach Company'' *''Phipps Land Company'' *''Snow Phipps Group, LLC'' *

U.S. Steel The United States Steel Corporation is an American steel company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It maintains production facilities at several additional locations in the U.S. and Central Europe. The company produces and sells steel products, ...

* WCTV * Wheatley Stable

Philanthropy & miscellaneous non-profits

* Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park * Caribbean Conservation Corporation *''Gulf Stream Golf Club'' * Gulfstream Polo Club * Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic *''Howard Phipps Foundation'' *''John S. Phipps Family Foundation'' *''Phipps-Florida Foundation'' *
Phipps Houses
' * Phipps Institute for the Study, Treatment & Prevention of Tuberculosis *'' Phipps Tuberculosis Dispensary'' * William A. Shine Great Neck South High School

Buildings, estates & historic sites

* Ayavalla Plantation *''Bonnie Blink'' * El Cid Historic District * Old Westbury Gardens * Orchard Pond Plantation *

Phipps Garden Apartments Phipps Garden Apartments is an apartment complex in Sunnyside Gardens, Queens, New York City. It was built in by Phipps Houses, a philanthropic organization of the Phipps family to build Show house, model tenements for working-class families, al ...

* Phipps Mansion * Phipps Plaza *''Rockburn Stud Farm'' *''Spring Hill''

References

Sources

* (daughter of

) * *
Love of horses helped to build a dynasty
, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (April 30, 2002) {{Authority control Phipps family American racehorse owners and breeders Business families of the United States