William L. Harkness

Who was William L. Harkness?

William Lamon Harkness was an American businessman. He was born in Bellevue, Ohio, the son of Daniel M. Harkness 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 the also a cousin of noted philanthropist Edward Harkness who also benefitted from his father's involvement with Standard Oil.

Will attended Bellevue Public Schools in Bellevue and The Brooks Military School in Cleveland. In 1881, Harkness graduated from Yale University. He gave encouragement to Henry Durand, a classmate, friend and member of the Wolf's Head Society, when Durand arranged Bright College Years. Will and his cousins Charles and Edward Harkness were also members of Wolf's Head Society at Yale.

In 1896, he moved from Cleveland, Ohio to a home at 12 East Fifty-third Street in New York City. He also owned a country home, Dosoris, at Glen Cove on Long Island. A yachtsman and sportsman, he was a member of the New York Yacht Club, the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club and Piping Rock Club.