James Lees Laidlaw

The son of Elizabeth Carter Onderdonk Laidlaw and Henry Bell Laidlaw, James Lees Laidlaw was born on December 19, 1868, in Manhattan, New York. His ancestors date back to early 17th century settlers of Long Island and New York. ==Career and community advocate==

Laidlaw was a banker, civic worker, and philanthropist. Laidlaw began working for his father's banking firm, Laidlaw & Company. In 1894, he became partner. His father died on January 8, 1902, and the firm continued with the surviving partners, Laidlaw, his brother-in-law Edward Roesler, and his uncle Charles E. Laidlaw. In 1911, Laidlaw became a member of the New York Board of Trade. In 1919, he was one of 300 delegates who attended a meeting to discuss industry relations and develop plans to address existing issues. The delegates represented 82 community councils of national defense. He was a member of the Bankers of America, Metropolitan Stock Exchange, and the New York Chamber of Commerce. Laidlaw was also president of the national Men's League. Laidlaw led the proceedings of the men's night of the 4th annual National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Several members of the national men's league, with 23,000 members, spoke to the political and economic reasons why women should have the right to vote. Specifically, as women obtained secondary education entered the workforce, it does not make sense that women would not have the right to provide input on issues related to their fields or trades. In 1911 and 1914, Laidlaw and his wife when on two speaking tours to promote women's suffrage in the western states. Women won the right to vote on November 6, 1917. In a speech after the amendment was passed, Laidlaw said, "The women did it. But not by any heroic action, but by hard, steady grinding and good organization. We men too have learned something, we who were auxiliaries to the great women's suffrage party. We have learned to be auxiliaries." Two suffrage memorial tablets were installed at the New York state and United States capitals. His was the only man's name that was placed on the tablet. ==Personal life==

, "The Feminine Charms of the Woman Militant", Good Housekeeping, 1911 Laidlaw married Harriet Burton on October 25, 1905 and they had a daughter, Louise Burton Laidlaw. Hazeldean Manor, built in Sands Point on Long Island in 1906 by James and Harriet, is a Mediterranean-style stucco home on three acres. The Laidlaws, both of whom were leaders in the suffrage movement, held fundraisers at their mansion. Named after an Irish ballad, ''Jock O'Hazeldean, the house stayed in the family until 1995. In Manhattan, they lived at 60 East 66th Street. The Laidlaws were listed on the Brooklyn Blue Book and Long Island Social Register''. Louise studied at Oxford University in 1930. Born in 1906, Louise, married Dana Backus and was active in suffrage work and a leader in the Southeast Asia Women's Association and Pan Pacific. He was member of the Manhasset Bay and New York Yacht Clubs. He was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. Harriet died on January 25, 1949. ==Notes==