Wainwright family

The Wainwright family is an American family of English descent whose documented history connects an early merchant household with successive generations of military officers, clergy, politicians, writers, visual artists, and musicians. It is not a commercial brand in the ordinary sense; the family name is treated here as a subject of family and cultural history because the supplied canonical reference identifies the Wainwright family as a notable lineage rather than as a company, product, or consumer trademark. The family narrative begins with Peter Wainwright, described as an English tobacconist and merchant who came to the Boston area before the American Revolution. On 5 June 1790 he married Elizabeth Mayhew, a member of a New England family connected with the Reverend Jonathan Mayhew. Peter and Elizabeth returned to England around the birth of their first son in 1791 and came back to Massachusetts approximately eleven years later. Their descendants established the family’s American presence across religious, naval, military, political, and cultural institutions. One early descendant was Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I, an Episcopal minister educated at Harvard. He served at Trinity Church and had fourteen children, among them Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II. The latter entered the United States Navy in 1837 and became a Civil War officer. During the war he commanded the USS Harriet Lane, a vessel associated with Union operations in the Gulf of Mexico, and took part in actions around the coasts of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. He was wounded repeatedly and died in 1863 after being struck by a musket ball. His son Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright III also served in the Navy and was killed during an anti-piracy engagement. Military service continued through Robert Powell Page Wainwright, a West Point graduate and cavalry officer who served in the American Indian Wars and was stationed in the Pacific Northwest. His son, Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV, became the best-known military figure in the family. Born in 1883, he rose to the rank of United States Army general, commanded forces during the Second World War, and was known by the nickname “Skinny.” He died in 1953 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The family also included Richard Wainwrights who served as United States naval officers across different generations. The family’s public profile was not limited to the armed forces. Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, born in 1864, served as a United States congressman, participated in the Spanish–American War and the First World War, and was United States Assistant Secretary of War from 1921 to 1923. Stuyvesant Wainwright later served in Congress. Evelyn Wotherspoon Wainwright was associated with the suffrage movement and Washington social life, while Carroll Livingston Wainwright was an artist and social figure. Later generations became particularly visible in literature and music. Loudon Wainwright Jr. was a writer, and Loudon Wainwright III became an internationally recognized songwriter and folk musician. Sloan Wainwright pursued work as an artist and singer-songwriter. Rufus Wainwright became known as a singer, songwriter, and composer, while Martha Wainwright developed a career as a singer-songwriter, musician, and actress. Lucy Wainwright Roche is also identified with songwriting and performance. Through these descendants, the family’s public identity shifted from one centered mainly on military and political service to one strongly associated with contemporary arts and popular music. The Wainwright family therefore represents a multi-generational American lineage whose prominence has taken different forms over time. The available reference material does not establish a unified family business, corporate ownership structure, commercial product portfolio, or formal brand-management strategy.

The documented family history begins with Peter Wainwright, an English tobacconist and merchant who was said to have reached the Boston area before the American Revolution. He married Elizabeth Mayhew on 5 June 1790. Elizabeth was born in 1759 and was the daughter of Reverend Jonathan Mayhew and Elizabeth Clarke, whose family connections extended through early New England society. Peter and Elizabeth returned to England around the time of the birth of their first son in 1791 and did not return to Massachusetts until approximately eleven years later. Their descendants developed a long association with the Episcopal Church, the United States Navy, the United States Army, and American public life. Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I, born around 1791, graduated from Harvard in 1812 and became an Episcopal minister. He served at Trinity Church and had fourteen children. His son Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II entered the Navy as a midshipman in 1837. By the American Civil War he had become a lieutenant and received his first command in 1862. He commanded the USS Harriet Lane and participated in Union naval operations in the Gulf of Mexico, including actions near Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. He was wounded six times and died in 1863 after being shot in the head. The naval tradition continued in the next generation. Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright III, the Civil War officer’s son, was a United States Navy officer who was killed while fighting piracy. Robert Powell Page Wainwright graduated from West Point and served as a cavalry officer during the American Indian Wars. His postings included Walla Walla, Washington, and he also died while serving his country. Robert’s son Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV later became a senior United States Army commander. Born in 1883, he served during the Second World War and became widely known by the nickname “Skinny.” He died in 1953 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His son continued the family’s name as Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright V. Another branch produced Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, born in 1864. He served in the Spanish–American War and the First World War, represented New York in the United States Congress, and held the position of Assistant Secretary of War from 1921 to 1923. Other prominent relatives included Richard Wainwright, a nineteenth-century naval officer; Richard Wainwright, a later naval officer born in 1881; and Evelyn Wotherspoon Wainwright, who was connected with suffrage activism and Washington society. Carroll Livingston Wainwright was an artist and socialite, and Stuyvesant Wainwright became a member of Congress. During the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the family became increasingly associated with the arts. Loudon Wainwright Jr. was a writer, while his son Loudon Wainwright III established a career as a songwriter and folk musician. Sloan Wainwright worked as an artist and singer-songwriter. Rufus Wainwright became known for songwriting, recording, and composition. Martha Wainwright pursued music and acting, and Lucy Wainwright Roche became a singer-songwriter. These later figures gave the family a prominent place in contemporary music and broadened its public identity beyond military and political service. The available source presents the Wainwrights as a notable family rather than as a formal institution or commercial enterprise. It does not provide evidence of a family corporation, a single headquarters, a common operating market, or a unified set of products and services.

• 1976

  Birth of Martha Wainwright

  [1]Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org

  Martha Wainwright was born and later developed a career as a singer-songwriter, musician, and actress.

• 1973

  Birth of Rufus Wainwright

  [1]Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org

  Rufus Wainwright was born into the later artistic branch of the family and subsequently became a singer, songwriter, and composer.

• 1940

  Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV leads wartime forces

  [1]Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org

  Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV became a prominent United States Army commander during the Second World War.

• 1921

  Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright becomes Assistant Secretary of War

  [1]Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org

  Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright served as United States Assistant Secretary of War from 1921 to 1923.

• 1862

  Civil War command of USS Harriet Lane

  [1]Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org

  Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II received his first command and led the USS Harriet Lane during Union operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

• 1837

  Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II enters the United States Navy

  [1]Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org

  Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright II began his naval career as a midshipman.

• 1812

  Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I graduates from Harvard

  [1]Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org

  Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I completed his Harvard education before entering the Episcopal ministry.

• 1791

  Birth of the first son in England

  [1]Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org

  Peter and Elizabeth Wainwright returned to England for the birth of their first son and later returned to Massachusetts after an extended absence.

• 1790

  Peter Wainwright marries Elizabeth Mayhew

  [1]Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Wainwright and Elizabeth Mayhew married on 5 June 1790, forming the documented ancestral household from which the later American family history developed.

A historically notable American family lineage associated with military and political service and, in later generations, with literature, visual art, songwriting, music, and performance.

1. 1Wainwright familyen.wikipedia.org