W. R. Vermilye

Col. Washington Romeyn Vermilye (September 29, 1810 – December 23, 1876) was an American banker who served as president of the New York Stock Exchange. Early life Vermilye was born in Harlem in New York City on September 29, 1810. He was a son of Mary (née Montgomery) Vermilye (1782–1847), who was of Irish Montgomery lineage, and William W. Vermilye (1780–1849), a venerated elder in the Presbyterian Church. Among his siblings were bankers William Montgomery Vermilye and Jacob Dykeman Vermilye (husband of Mary Cornelia Lathrop), and prominent clergyman, the Rev. Drs. Thomas E. Vermilye and Robert G. Vermilye. Vermilye, who was of Huguenot ancestry, was "a descendant of one of the oldest families of New-York, the original founder of the family, Mr. John Vermilye, having immigrated to this country from England in 1690." Career On November 8, 1830, Vermilye began his association with the Seventh Regiment (formerly the 27th Artillery) of the National Guard. In 1832, he was elected first lieutenant, followed by captain in 1833, major in 1840, lieutenant colonel in 1843, and lastly, promoted to colonel in November 1845. After years of service in the regiment he continued his interest, being colonel of the veterans, and was actively involved in the building of new armory.