5. The neighborhood’s namesake helped bring polo to the U.S.
As mentioned earlier, Douglaston gets its name from William Douglas, whom many described as a playboy. He was a yacht racer, winning the top yachting prize in 1871 on his $50,000 yacht. He used many of his winnings to expand the family’s Douglaston property, as well as to live a lavish life in Manhattan. He spent many hours a week at the Union Club. He also donated a station to the North Shore Railroad, which later became absorbed into the Long Island Rail Road. Many people in the community despised Douglas, who tried to crown himself “Earl of Douglas” and lashed out at people who attempted to fish on his property. William’s father George was quite the opposite, a devoutly religious man who gave thousands to charitable and religious organizations including the American Bible Society.
While on his yachting adventures, William Douglas befriended James Gordon Bennett, publisher of the New York Herald who sponsored Henry Morton Stanley’s African expedition to find David Livingstone. Douglas won the first trans-oceanic yacht race and served as commodore of the New York Yacht Club. Bennett became engaged to the sister of Douglas’ wife Adelaide, though this relationship ended their friendship; at a party, a drunken Bennett got into a duel with his ex-fiancee’s brother. However, before this contentious separation, Bennett joined Douglas in many sports, including polo. Bennett is today widely attributed witb bringing polo to the U.S., hosting a tournament with Douglas in Manhattan. It was held at Dickel’s Riding Academy at 39th Street and Fifth Avenue, and its success led to the development of the Westchester Polo Club in 1876.