07/02/2020
Caldwell must have been a disappointment to his mother, but she loved him anyway and built our parish house in his memory.
Notable of the Month - Caldwell C**t (1858-1894)
Caldwell C**t was the son of gun manufacturer Sam and his wife Elizabeth C**t. Educated at Yale, Caldwell designed his first firearm in 1879. He was elected vice president of C**t’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in 1888 at the age of 29. There is little information regarding his active participation in the business.
Caldwell was most interested in sailing. Since he received his inheritance at 21, he was able to pursue his hobby without financial concerns.
Caldwell’s interest in yachting began in 1868 at age 10 in Newport. He acquired his first yacht at 18 and eventually owned 5 yachts. In 1881, he purchased the Dauntless, a champion racer. He averaged 10 months a year sailing. He toured Europe and the West Indies and regularly visited Florida where he was a member of the St. Augustine Yacht Club.
In 1887, Caldwell took part in a transatlantic race between the Dauntless and the Coronet. He crossed the Atlantic in 16 days, arriving 30 hours behind the Coronet. Although he lost, the race made him a yachting legend. In 1888, he was made vice-commodore of the prestigious New York Yacht Club and in 1892, he was made commodore of the Larchmont Yacht Club.
Caldwell died in Punta Gorda, Florida in January of 1894.
