John William Sterling

1844–1918 (age 74)

Lawyer

Biography

John William Sterling became one of New York’s leading corporate lawyers, guiding financiers and institutions while building a reputation for integrity and meticulous judgment at the firm that still carries his name.

He devoted his estate to large-scale philanthropy, most famously underwriting Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library and other civic causes, and his memory rests in the peaceful grounds of Woodlawn Cemetery.