James Colby Colgate
1863-1944
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James Colby Colgate was born in Yonkers, NY in 1863. His father was a successful financier and his grandfather, William Colgate, was the pioneer soap maker that began what is now the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Colgate and his father were major donors to Madison University in Hamilton, New York. Out of gratitude, the school's director changed the name to Colgate University.
Colgate graduated from that very university and then went on to earn a law degree from Columbia. He initially practiced law in New York City before joining his father's stock brokerage firm.
Colgate's most enduring legacy was with his involvement with the university. He was a member of Colgate's board of trustees for decades and was the President of the Board for 15 years, after which he was named honorary president, a title he held until his death in 1944.
When he married Hope Conkling in 1890, it was as if he took two brides: Miss Conkling, and her hometown of Bennington. He soon came to love his Vermont home more than he did all his business and station in New York. He was an active member of the Bennington community, where he operated a dairy farm and raised Merino sheep. He was a benefactor to the village of Old Bennington, funding road paving and donating funds that helped establish the Bennington Museum.
