Frederick Gebhard (July 11, 1860 – September 5, 1910) was a wealthy New Yorker who at the age of 22 became infatuated with Lillie Langtry, a renowned beauty, who had been elevated to celebrity status following her affair with Edward, Prince of Wales.

His father joined the family firm in 1845, by which time they had expanded their mercantile business and developed interests in banking and rail-road stocks.

His grandfather's estate included properties in New York City, some in the vicinity of Broadway, Nassau, and William streets, and others uptown.

[7] Gebhard and his sister inherited wealth, and the family mansion at 100 Fifth Avenue, from the estates of their parents and their grandfather.

By the time he was 22, Gebhard was described as a young clubman, sportsman, horse owner, and admirer of feminine beauty, both on and off the stage.

Her beauty and charm attracted interest in London society including the attention of Edward, Prince of Wales.

When this relationship cooled, Langtry found herself in financial difficulties and a friend suggested she try acting as a means of raising funds.

After an initial try out in London and a successful tour, she was invited to appear in the United States, arriving in New York in 1882.

Although still married, she began an affair with Gebhard and the publicity that this generated guaranteed that her stateside tour would be a sell out.

He owned one of the great distance race horses of the time called Eole, that he shipped to England for the 1885 season.

[10] Although Eole had failed him in 1885, Gebhard had some success during the English racing season that year with a steeplechaser called Jolly Sir John.

Another fire in 1900 destroyed the stables in his country home at Westbury, Long Island but the animals were rescued.

[13] In 1894, Gebhard married Louise Hollingsworth Morris (1877–1936) of Baltimore; the ceremony was held in the home of her parents and officiated by Maltbie Davenport Babcock a Presbyterian minister.

The wedding was a secret affair carried out in 1907 by the Baptist minister Rev Harry Marsh Warren, but the details leaked out months later.