William Lamon Harkness was born in Bellevue, Ohio, the son of Daniel M. Harkness, who was the half-brother of both Henry Flagler and Stephen V. Harkness, both founders of Standard Oil, and his wife Isabella Harkness. Upon his father Daniel's death in 1896, he inherited a large share in Standard Oil, a company in which his father had been an early shareholder. He is also a cousin of noted philanthropist Edward Harkness who also benefitted from his father's involvement with Standard Oil.[1]
He attended Bellevue Public Schools in Bellevue, Ohio and The Brooks Military School in Cleveland. In 1881, Harkness graduated from Yale University.
In August 1911, while in command of his steam yachtGunildaonLake Superior, he ran her aground, due to his failure in recognising a requirement for a pilot and then compounding the matter by not hiring tugs at the appropriate time. She would sink in days. He put in a claim against the ship's insurer, Lloyd's of London for about $132,000, and received $100,000 compensation.[2]
Shortly before his death, Harkness donated $400,000 to Yale University.[3] The William L. Harkness Hall at Yale University was completed in 1927 as the gift of Mr. W.L. Harkness, B.A. 1881, and his family. It is a Collegiate Gothic building of Aquia sandstone with Ohio sandstone trim and contains offices and lecture & recitation rooms for the French, German, and Music departments. William Adams Delano was the architect.[4]
Harkness was married to Edith Hale (1863–1947), daughter of Edwin B. Hale, a prominent banker from Cleveland.[5] Together, they were the parents of:[6]
William Hale Harkness (1900–1954), who married Elisabeth Grant in 1932,[8] and later on October 1, 1947, he married Rebekah Semple West Pierce (1915–1982).[9]
Harkness died in New York City in 1919 and was buried in the Woodlawn CemeteryinThe Bronx, New York.[10] He left an estate of $53,439,437,[11] which would be approximately $939 million in 2023 dollars, of which $37,272,254 was stock in Standard Oil. He left half of his estate including his houses at 12 East 53rd Street in New York City and Dosoris at Glen Cove, New York to his wife Edith Hale Harkness.[11] The remaining half was divided between his daughter Louise Hale Harkness and his son William Hale Harkness.[5]
