Whitney family

The Whitney family is a prominent American family descended from English emigrant John Whitney (1592–1673), who left London in 1635 and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. The historic family mansion in Watertown, known as The Elms, was built for the Whitneys in 1710.

Successive generations of the Whitney family have shaped American history. Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin in 1793 enabled cotton seeds to be removed 50 times faster, a breakthrough that helped the country produce 75% of the world's cotton supply and boosted the demand for slaves. In 1844, Asa Whitney launched a campaign to build a railway linking the country's west to the east that ultimately resulted in the first transcontinental railroad. William Collins Whitney, who became U.S. Secretary of the Navy in 1885, oversaw the American fleet's adoption of steel ships, which helped the United States become a world power. In the 20th century, family members influenced the country's economy through conglomerates such as Pan Am, J.H. Whitney & Company, and Freeport-McMoran.

Members of the Whitney family have also been major figures for more than a century in the breeding and racing of Thoroughbred horses. The Whitneys continue to be involved in philanthropic efforts due to the wealth accumulated by past generations. They are also members of the Episcopal Church.