City Readers Digital Historic Collections at the New York Society Library

Gilbert Aspinwall, a merchant, dry goods importer, and ship owner, was born October 10, 1768, in Flushing, New York (Aspinwall 72). He formed the firm Rogers & Aspinwall in 1791 with Nehemiah Rogers, and was in business with his brother John at Gilbert & John Aspinwall from 1794 until 1812 (Aspinwall 72). The two brothers owned several ships and traded with St. Petersburg, Liverpool, and other European ports (Homberger 11). Aspinwall later took his son John as a partner in the firm Gilbert Aspinwall & Son. He served as director in several corporations including the Eagle Fire Insurance Company, the Northern and Western Canal Company, and the Ocean Insurance Company. He was Governor of the New York Hospital in 1799 and 1819, committee member of the New York Chamber of Commerce, and member of the American Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Manufactures.  

Aspinwall married Ann Sowers, daughter of Captain Thomas Sowers in 1791; they had six children (Aspinwall 72-73). 

During a meeting of citizens in Tammany Hall on February 15, 1819, Aspinwall was elected to a committee to decide on a "public demonstration ... of respect" for recent War of 1812 hero and future president Andrew Jackson who was going to be visiting the city ("Tamma"). Jackson's visit was marked by a military review, the gift of a gold box, and a dinner at Tammany Hall (Stone 109).  

Aspinwall died on September 18, 1819, in Jamaica, New York from yellow fever during the City's epidemic; it was reported that he caught the illness at his store in the neighborhood of Old Slip (Mercantile Advertiser 2). He is buried in Prospect Cemetery, Jamaica, Queens, New York.