Identity:

He was the son of Ross Winans and Julia De Kay. He married Celeste Revillon in 1847 in Alexandroffsky, Russia. They had four children: George (1849); Ross Revillon (1851-1912); William George (1852-1861); Celeste (1855-1916). Winans's sister (Julia) was married to AMW's step-son (JW's half-brother) George William Whistler.

Life:

He was one of the partners of the major locomotive firm Harrison, Winans and Eastwick (organized to handle the construction of the St Petersburg - Moscow railroad). In 1843 he went to Russia to take charge of the mechanical department, contracted to equip the railroad with locomotives and other rolling stock in 5 years, and established the Alexandroffsky Mechanical Works. He returned to the USA in 1851, but was recalled to Russia for a new construction in 1866. Business interests were taken over by the Russian government with the payment of a large bonus in 1868.

He became director of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and established a soup station outside his house during the Civil War. He devised with his father a cigar-shaped hull for transatlantic steamers, 1859, and devoted the rest of his life to creating a series of ingenious inventions, including improvements in organs, pianos, ventilation, and plumbing.

He was JW's first patron, and a great collector of works of art. He owned Portrait of Anna Denny (YMSM 4), The Fishwife (YMSM 6), Copy after Boucher's 'Diane au bain' (YMSM 20), Wapping (YMSM 35).

Bibliography:

Who Was Who in America, Chicago, 1963, p. 588; Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980; MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995.