Early Life and Business Activities
Orteig was born in the south of France, in the village of Louvie-Juzon in southern France near Béarn. After spending part of his childhood looking after his father's sheep in the |Pyrenees he emigrated at age 12, arriving in New York on 13th October, 1882 with 13 Francs in his pocket to join an uncle living in New York. He started working as a bar porter at Wengler's Restaurant on William Street, New York. Gaining experience he moved on to a position as waiter and then as a maitre'd at Martin Hotel on University Place on Ninth Street. By the time the owner Jean-Baptiste Martin moved uptown in 1902 Orteig was in a position to buy the hotel, which he renamed the Lafayette Hotel. In conjunction with a partner he was also able to lease the rundown Brevoort Hotel on the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Eight Street in Greenwich Village). He refurbished the hotel.
The Lafayette became a favourite gathering spot for airmen during and after World War 1, where Orteig became acquainted with many airmen including French officers on temporary duty in the United States of America to help the USA build the US Air Force. After the end of the World War I whenever he could he and his family were spending the summer in Louvie-Juzon. This life long interest in the region of his birth lead to him expanding his business interests by the purchase of the Henri IV Hotel in Pau.
By his mid fifties Ortieg was in semi-retirement with daily operations at his establishments under the management of his three sons and his business partner Elie Daution. In 1925 the partnership undertook a $200,000 refurbishment of the Brevoort Hotel.
His support of and numerous charitable activities made him a leading figure in New York's French community. This lead to him being made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
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