Name Cornelius Heeney Role Politician | Died May 3, 1848 | |
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Cornelius Heeney (1754 in King's County, Ireland – May 3, 1848 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York) was an Irish-American merchant and politician. Heeney emigrated from Ireland at the age of 30, first to Philadelphia and later to New York. While working for a Quaker merchant in lower Manhattan, he met John Jacob Astor. When the merchant retired, he left his business to Heeney and Astor. The two remained in business together for a short time, but Heeney eventually opened his own fur trading establishment.
Heeney remained a bachelor his entire life, and donated much of his money to Catholic charitable causes throughout New York City. He was instrumental in the founding of the first Catholic Church in New York, St. Peter's, and served as one of the early trustees of the parish. He contributed money for the construction of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, and gave both money and land for the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum. Heeney also served as guardian to the future cardinal of New York, John McCloskey, after the death of his father.
He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1818 to 1822, and was the first Catholic to hold elected office in New York State. He was a partner with the Astor family and founder of the Brooklyn Benevolent Society.