William Richardson Belknap, was the son of William Burke Belknap the elder and Mary Richardson.
Background
In 1880, following the death of his father, the founder of the company, he became president for 28 years of the Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Company After his retirement as president of Belknap Hardware, he became the company"s Chairman of the Board.
Education
He graduated from Yale"s Sheffield Scientific School in 1869, and in 1873 he spent a year traveling in Europe with his younger brother Morris Burke Belknap.
Career
William R. Belknap was born in Louisville, Kentucky and died in Jefferson County, Kentucky. In 1911 he built his home, Lincliff, hiring two architects of McDonald Brothers, Kenneth McDonald and William J. Dodd, to carry out its design. The Olmsted Brothers were hired by Belknap to create plans for the estate grounds.
Lincliff was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The William R. Belknap School in the Belknap neighorhood of Louisville was named for him. In 1898 Belknap lived at 406 Ormsby Avenue, Louisville.
At his death in 1914 his estate was estimated at $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. He is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville.
Achievements
Membership
Belknap was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was a charter member of the Salmagundi Club and served for three years as its secretary.
Connections
Married Alice Trumbull, daughter Married second, Juliet Rathbone Davison, February, 1894.