Herman D. Aldrich

Herman Daggett Aldrich (July 6, 1801 – April 5, 1880) was an American businessman and philanthropist in the Gilded Age.

Herman Daggett Aldrich was born on July 6, 1801 in Mattituck, New York. His father, James Aldrich, was of English descent.

Aldrich moved to New York City, where he worked for Stephen Lockwood, a merchant.

In 1820, Aldrich co-founded McCurdy and Aldrich, a dry goods commission firm, with Robert Henry McCurdy. It later became known as McCurdy, Aldrich and Spencer. The three partners retired circa 1860, when it became Low, Harriman & Co.

Aldrich made charitable contributions to St. Luke's Hospital Center.

Aldrich married Elizabeth Wyman, the daughter of Samuel Wyman, in 1840. Beside three children who died in childhood, they had three sons (James H. Aldrich, William W. Aldrich, Spencer Aldrich) and two daughters (Helen Hudson Aldrich married Rev. James Nevett Steele of the Trinity Church, and Mary Elizabeth Aldrich who married Thomas Underwood Dudley, the second Episcopal Bishop of Kentucky.) They resided on 14th Street, until they moved to 200 Madison Avenue, both of which are located in Manhattan, New York City.

Aldrich died on April 5, 1880 at his Madison Avenue residence. His funeral was held as a joint ceremony with Robert Henry McCurdy, who died on the same day, at the Calvary Church. The funeral was attended by Peter Cooper, William E. Dodge, Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen, James Watson Webb, Thurlow Weed, etc. His sermon was given by Bishop Henry C. Potter and Reverend E. A. Washburne of the Episcopal Church. He was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery, next to McCurdy.

His estate built Aldrich Court, a skyscraper located at 41-45 Broadway in Manhattan, between 1886 and 1887. By September 1905, his extensive real estate holdings, inherited by his widow and valued at US$5 million, were auctioned off.