George Merritt (August 14, 1807 – October 5, 1873) was a businessman from New York. He owned the mansion Lyndhurst on the Hudson River, which was sold to financier Jay Gould by Merritt's widow, Julia Merritt, after Merritt's death in 1873.

Early life

Merritt was born on August 14, 1807, in White Creek in Washington County, New York. He was a son of Benjamin Merritt and Thankful ( Scott) Merritt. Beginning at the age of five, was educated at the Friends Boarding School at Nine Partners.

Career

Merritt moved to New York City in 1822 and was a dry goods merchant until 1853, residing six years in Georgia. He was Owner and President of the New England Car Spring Co. from 1853 to 1868. Merritt held a patent for a railroad car spring.

Personal life

[[File:PHOTOCOPY OF 1873 MAP OF LYNDHURST - Lyndhurst, Main House, 635 South Broadway, Tarrytown, Westchester County, NY HABS NY,60-TARY,1A-78.tif|thumb On November 5, 1845, Merritt was married to Julia Douglas (1823–1904), a daughter of Ann ( Sutherland) Douglas (daughter of [[Solomon Sutherland]]) and Alanson Douglas, in Troy, New York. She was a direct descendant of The Reverend Roger Williams, who founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Together, they were the parents of six children, four of whom lived to adulthood. Merritt died of Bright's disease on October 5, 1873, at his house in Irvington, New York. After a funeral at the Irvington Parish Church, he and was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Lyndhurst

In 1864 Merritt bought Knoll, the former country estate of William S. Paulding, Jr. and hired architect Alexander Jackson Davis to expand the estate, doubling the house's size in the gothic revival style between 1864 and 1865, renaming it "Lyndenhurst" for the estate's linden trees. His new north wing added an imposing four-story tower, new porte-cochere (the old one was reworked as a glass walled vestibule) and a new dining room, two bedrooms, and servants quarters. After his death, his widow, Julia sold the Irvington house to financier Jay Gould.