Havemeyer family

[1] William Havemeyer (1770-1851) left Germany at age 15 and arrived in New York City after learning the trade of sugar refining in London.

[2] His son William Frederick Havemeyer, retired from the sugar refining business in 1842 and entered politics, eventually serving three terms as Mayor of New York.

[3][4] In 1855, the family relocated their refineries to Brooklyn, where they remained as the business grew to acquire a commanding share of the United States sugar refining market under the leadership of Frederick's grandson, Henry Osborne Havemeyer.

[5] In the 20th century several of the family's members made notable contributions to the arts.

[6][7] Havemeyer Street in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn is named after the family.