Matthew Borden - Rise of The "Calico King"

Rise of The "Calico King"

In 1887, Borden bought his brother's interest in The American Printing Company. Borden sought to increase profits, and to become independent of the open market. This led him to commence the building of three large cloth mills in Fall River in 1889. By 1892 Borden's business were churning out around 70,000 pieces of print cloth week. Half of the cloth was being supplied by his own mills.

In order to raise money for his textile business he regularly turned to his fellow Bonesman and roommate at Yale, John William Sterling. Sterling was a well-known New York banker, with access to the Stillman and Rockefeller crowds.

Borden also kept a home in New York City, and integrated himself into the high society of that city. He also had many financial interests in New York, being a director of the Manhattan Company Bank, the Lincoln National Bank, the Astor Place Bank, the Lincoln Safe Deposit Co. and the New York Security & Trust Co. Borden was a Republican in politics. For several years he served as New York City Commissioner of Parks. He was also a trustee and treasurer of The Clinton Hall Association, and governor of the New York Woman's Hospital.

He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, Down Town Association, Jekyll Island Club, Merchants Club of New York, Metropolitan Club of New York, New England Society, New York Yacht Club, Players Club of New York, Republican Club of New York, Riding Club of New York, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Skull and Bones, South Side Sportsmen's Club, Union League Club of New York and the Whist Club of New York.

In 1898, Borden's steam yacht named Sovereign was acquired by the United States Navy and renamed the USS Scorpion, serving the Navy until 1929.