William Collins Whitney

William Collins Whitney
31st United States Secretary of the Navy
In office March 7, 1885 – March 4, 1889
President	Grover Cleveland
Preceded by	William E. Chandler
Succeeded by	Benjamin F. Tracy
Personal details
Born	(1841-07-05)July 5, 1841 Conway, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	February 2, 1904(1904-02-02) (aged 62) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Flora Payne ​ ​ (m. 1869; died 1893)​ Edith Randolph ​ ​ (m. 1896; died 1899)​
Children	5, including Harry, Pauline, William, Dorothy
Relatives	James Scollay Whitney (Father)
Education	Williston Seminary Yale University (BA) Harvard University
Signature

William Collins Whitney (July 5, 1841 – February 2, 1904) was an American political leader and financier and a prominent member of the Whitney family. He served as Secretary of the Navy in the first administration of President Grover Cleveland from 1885 through 1889. A conservative reformer, he was considered a Bourbon Democrat.