John Lowell Gardner, II

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lowell_Gardner_II

John "Jack" Lowell Gardner II (November 26, 1837 – December 10, 1898) was an American businessman, art collector, and philanthropist. He and his wife, Isabella Stewart Gardner, were patrons of the arts whose collection is now housed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, in Boston.

Background

Jack Gardner's mother, Catherine Endicott Peabody (1808–1883), of Brookline, MA, was the daughter of the distinguished Salem shipowner, Joseph Peabody (1757–1844), who made a fortune importing pepper from Sumatra and was one of the wealthiest men in the United States at the time of his death in 1844. Jack's paternal grandfather, Samuel Pickering Gardner (1768–1843), descended from Thomas Gardner (planter) and from the father of Timothy Pickering. Through his paternal grandmother, Rebecca Russell Lowell, he descended from Percival Lowell who had arrived at Cape Ann in 1639.

After spending time at Harvard, Jack entered his father's East Indies trading business.

The John L. Gardners' (I and II) ships sailed many seas. The Gardners partnered with Joseph Peabody. Some of the ships included (ships are not linked): Arabia, Bunker Hill, California, Democrat, Duxbury, Eclipse, Gentleman, Grotius, Lenore, Lepanto, Lotos, Marquis de Somerulas, Mars, Monterey, Nabob, Napke, Naples, Pallas, Pioneer, Plant, Plato, Ruble, Sappho, Shawmut, St Paul, Sumatra, Thetis, Unicorn.

Jack had financial interests besides shipping, such as railroads (Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad) and mining (Calumet and Hecla Mining Company). He supported the America's Cup defender, Puritan.

Marriage

He married Isabella Stewart on April 10, 1860. Jack and Isabella had one son, John Lowell 3rd, who was born June 18, 1863. He died March 15, 1865. After his death, the couple started to travel and collect.

In 1875, Jack's brother, Joseph P, died. He had been a widower since 1865. Joseph P left three young sons, including Augustus P. Gardner who was 10 years old at the time.

Jack and Isabella 'adopted' and raised the boys. Augustus accompanied them on some of their 'hunts' for collectibles.

John Gardner Jr. who was known as "Jack" to his family, friends and business colleagues, met spirited Isabella Stewart through his sister Julia when they were students together in Europe. Isabella Stewart was the daughter of David Stewart and Adelia Smith of New York, whose family wealth came through mining. Jack and Isabella fell in love, became engaged, and were married on April 10, 1860, in Grace Church in New York. They were very happy together and had a good marriage. Jack adored and indulged his wife through their thirty-eight years of marriage until his death.

The tragedy of their lives was when their only child, son John "Jackie" Lowell Gardner III died from pneumonia at about 21 months. They were both devastated, and Isabella was in a state of deep depression. The doctor advised them to take a trip, so they went abroad for a long period. During this time Jack encouraged Isabella to pursue her passion for art. She became a collector of world class paintings, and for the rest of their lives they acquired renown paintings and artifacts. Isabelle took classes, studied art, and became friends with some of the up and coming and famous artists of their time. Their home and generosity was shared with artists and they became patrons of the arts.

Jack Gardner's brother, Joseph Peabody Gardner and the former Harriet Armory had three sons, William, Joseph, and Augustus Peabody. In 1865 Harriet died unexpectedly, leaving Joseph to rear their children alone. After Joseph's death in 1875 Jack and Isabella brought their teen age nephews home, adopted them, loved them as their own children, and continued their education.

One of their adopted nephews, Augustus Peabody Gardner, graduated from Harvard, and married Constance Lodge, a daughter of Henry Cabot Lodge. Augustus Gardner served as a member of The U.S. House Of Representatives form Massachusetts 6th Congressional District November 4, 1902 - May 15, 1917. Augustus Gardner resigned from Congress to join the Army in World War I. He died at age 52 from pneumonia while serving at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. Augustus Gardner's grief stricken widow Constance (b April 6, 1872 France) had him buried at Arlington Cemetery. His simple headstone reads Augustus P Gardner - Major United States National Guard - 1865 - 1918.

In later years Jack and Isabella decided to make their home a museum and donate it to the city of Boston upon their deaths, wanting to share art with the people of America. Jack became ill and died suddenly in 1898. Isabella wanted to pursue their dream and realized she needed a larger property to fulfill their vision. She purchased property in an excellent location and spent two years personally overseeing the construction of what became her home, (living on the third floor) and lovely art museum, working tirelessly to fulfill her vision. Her only stipulation was that no paintings could be moved or added or removed from the museum.

Isabella Stewart Gardner is buried Mount Auburn Cemetery in the Gardner Family mausoleum. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum shares the wonderful art legacy she left to the city of Boston for the benefit and knowledge and pleasure of the people.