City Readers Digital Historic Collections at the New York Society Library

William Beekman, a merchant, was born in 1754. He entered Princeton in 1769, where he studied languages and the classics; he graduated in 1773, and remained the following year to study theology (Harrison 270; "William"). He took private instruction in French in 1775 until the Revolutionary War interrupted his studies. His father hired substitutes to fight for his three oldest sons during the Revolutionary War, and during the war he and his brothers helped his father and uncles in their businesses (Harrison 271). By 1784 he had become a full partner in his father's import business James Beekman & Sons, was sworn in as a freeman of the city on March 30, 1784, and elected a tax assessor for the seventh ward, where he lived, in June 1795 and October 1796 (Harrison 271).

Beekman was the eldest child of Library member James Beekman and Jane Keteltas Beekman. He was the nephew of Library members William Beekman and Gerard W. Beekman, Sr, and the brother of Library members Abraham K. Beekman, James Beekman, Jr., John K. Beekman, and Gerard W. Beekman, Jr. 

Beekman died on August 15, 1808.