George R. Bidwell

George R. Bidwell was a pioneering bicycle salesman and manufacturer. From July 14, 1897 to April 3, 1902, he was Collector of the Port of New York.

Biography

Bicycle salesman

Bidwell was born in Buffalo, New York.[1] He saw his first bicycle at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and soon bought one for himself. Bidwell later inquired to Albert Augustus Pope, a prominent bicycle manufacturer, about becoming a bicycle salesman. Pope told Bidwell about his new Columbia bicycles, which Bidwell promptly ordered. Bidwell proved to be a successful salesman, and Pope named him as Superintendent of Agencies.[2] In 1880, Bidwell became one of the charter members of the newly-formed League of American Wheelmen.[1] In 1881, Bidwell moved to New York City to sell bicycles at E. I. Horsman's sporting goods store at Pope's request and was replaced as Superintendent of Agencies by Elliot Mason.[3] At a conference of the League of American Wheelmen, Bidwell saw a modern safety bicycle, a Rover designed by John Kemp Starley. Bidwell recommended that Pope start production of their own safety bicycles, but Pope refused. Bidwell subsequently left Pope to start his own bicycle company.[4]

Political career

As a member of the League of American Wheelmen, Bidwell had lobbied for laws protecting cyclists.[5][1] In 1894, Bidwell became secretary of the New York Republican County Committee, and served in said position for two years. Afterwards, Bidwell took over Republican operations in the Nineteenth Assembly District.[1]

In 1897, Bidwell was appointed as Collector of the Port of New York by President William McKinley. Prior to the adoption of the Sixteenth Amendment, customs duties (tariffs) and excise taxes were the primary sources of US federal government revenue,[6] and as the largest port in the United States at the time (by 1910, the port was the busiest in the world),[7] the Port of New York was therefore the single most important source of federal government income. These factors led the office of Collector of the Port of New York to be described as "the prize plum of Federal patronage not only in this State but perhaps in the country, outside of positions in the Cabinet."[8]

In 1901, new President Theodore Roosevelt decided to replace Bidwell with New York State Senator Nevada N. Stranahan, against the wishes of Senator Thomas C. Platt.[9] Bidwell's term in office officially ended when Stranahan was confirmed in April 1902.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "COLLECTOR GEORGE R. BIDWELL". Harper's Weekly. New York: Harper & Brothers. July 17, 1897.
  2. ↑ Epperson, Bruce (2010). Peddling Bicycles to America: the rise of an industry. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company. p. 65.
  3. ↑ Epperson, p. 68
  4. ↑ Epperson, p. 84
  5. ↑ McCullough, Robert L. (2015). Old Wheelways: Traces of Bicycle History on the Land. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. p. 188.
  6. ↑ Buenker, John D. 1981. "The Ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment." The Cato Journal. 1:1. PDF
  7. ↑ "WATER FRONTAGE AROUND NEW YORK; Values and Needs for Better Shipping Facilities Explained by Floyd S. Corbin" (PDF). The New York Times. 1910-04-03.
  8. ↑ "George W. Aldridge Dies As He Golfs At Westchester Club - Collector of Port, 65, and Seemingly Hale, Stricken With Apoplexy - Sinks Without a Word - Charles D. Hilles and George Sweeny Near Rochester Leader as Death Comes - Ends Picturesque Career - Last Survivor of Big Three, Including Platt and Hendricks - Body to Be Taken Home Today" (PDF). New York Times. June 14, 1922. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "George R. Bidwell In Town". The Washington times. Washington, DC. 18 November 1901. p. 3. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
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