Watson Bradley Dickerman (January 4, 1846 – April 5, 1923) was an American banker who founded Dominick & Dickerman and served as president of the New York Stock Exchange.
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Early life
Dickerman was born on January 4, 1846, in Mount Carmel, Connecticut. He was the ninth and youngest child of son of Ezra Dickerman (1800–1860) and Sarah (née Jones) Dickerman (1806–1890). Among his siblings were brothers George Sherwood, Henry Street and Ezra Day Dickerman.
He was educated at Williston Seminary, a prep school established in 1841 in Easthampton, Massachusetts.
Career
Dickerman began his finance and banking career as a young employee and trainee of Jacob Bunn in the J. Bunn Bank of Springfield, Illinois, before coming to New York City in 1868 and joining the Open Board of Brokers, which was consolidated with the New York Stock Exchange in 1869.
On June 15, 1870, he formed the stock brokerage firm of Dominick & Dickerman with Chicago-born William Gayer Dominick. Dominick had purchased membership on the New York Stock Exchange in 1869 where he met Dickerman. Dominick's brothers, George and Bayard Dominick, also joined the Exchange and became partners in the firm. In 1889, the firm opened its first branch in Cincinnati where it was one of only two exchange members.