John Diederich Lankenau
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Biographical Text
John Diederich Lankenau (1817-1901) was born and educated in Bremen, Germany before emigrating to America in 1836. Lankenau worked for the import firm Wicht, Warner & Co. He eventually became a partner (Wicht & Lankenau) before retiring in 1965.
He married Mary Johannah Drexel (1822-1873), Francis M. Drexel’s eldest child, in 1848, and maintained a close relationship with brother-in-law Anthony J. Drexel. John was predeceased by his wife and their two children who survived to adulthood, Francis W. Lankenau (?-1877) and Elise Lankenau (circa 1858-1882).
Lankenau was made an executor of Francis M. Drexel’s estate. This brought Lankenau to his work with the German Hospital of Philadelphia, now known as Lankenau Medical Center and located in Lower Merion. He served as the second president from 1869 until his death in 1901. He also founded the Mary J. Drexel Home and the Philadelphia Motherhouse of Deaconesses.
A musician and art collector, Lankenau bequeathed many works of art to the Drexel Museum, now known as the Drexel Founding Collection.
Lankenau’s papers are held at the Archives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library.
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Death Date
Birthplace
Occupation
Philanthropist
Source
Undated
F. Gutekunst
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Papers
Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
H50 F, box 2, folder 9