MOTT, William Franklin, philanthropist, born in New York city, 12 January, 1785; died there, 3 May, 1867. He was a cousin of Valentine Mott. Early in the present century, in partnership with his brother, Samuel F., he established the first house in New York that carried on the domestic commission business. This trade increased rapidly during the war of 1812-'15, when an embargo shut out foreign goods. He retired from business about 1830, and during the remainder of his life was engaged in works of benevolence. He labored to prevent the inhuman treatment of foundling children when they were farmed out by the city authorities, and also to check cruelty to animals, long before there was a society for the purpose. He was an active member of the Society of Friends, and a founder or benefactor of many charitable corporations, among them the Manumission society, established in 1807, the House of refuge, the Eastern dispensary, the Home for the friendless, the Colored orphans' asylum, the Institution for the instruction of the deaf and dumb, and the Woman's hospital, o