Ward McAllister

Biography

Ward McAllister became the arbiter of New York society, championing gracious entertainments and helping to define the circle of citizens who shaped the city’s social life in the Gilded Age. His sharp sense of propriety was matched by a warm hospitality that set the tone for the salons, balls, and charitable gatherings he curated.

Though the halls that once resounded with his introductions have long since faded, he is remembered at Green-Wood Cemetery as a man who celebrated community, supported charities, and sought to lend dignity to civic life through the personal touch of a well-ordered household.