William Greenleaf Eliot (August 5, 1811[1] – January 23, 1887[2]) was an American educator, Unitarian minister, and civic leader in Missouri. He is most notable for founding Washington University in St. Louis, but also contributed to the founding of numerous other civic institutions, such as the St. Louis Art Museum, public school system, and charitable institutions.
William Greenleaf Eliot's wife, Abigail Adams Cranch, was the daughter of William Cranch, a nephew of Abigail Adams. William G. Eliot's father, mother, and wife were first cousins of each other. Their mothers were siblings, as well as sisters of Rebecca Greenleaf (she married Noah Webster.) The Eliots had 14 children but not all survived to adulthood. Among their children were Rev. Thomas Lamb Eliot, Regent and Trustee of Reed College, and Henry Ware Eliot, businessman.
"District of Columbia Marriages, 1811-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLZ1-RZC : 15 January 2021), Wm G Eliot and Abby Cranch, 29 Jun 1837; citing p. , Records Office, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,079,252.
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6NH-R86 : 9 September 2017), William Eliot, St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 362, sheet 369A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,734.
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6F5-YH5 : 16 August 2017), William G Eliot, St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district ED 138, sheet 158C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,724.
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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
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