Alexander was the father-in-law of James Dinsmore, a very successful merchant in Detroit and New York City, and a great land speculator.  Macomb, of Scotch-Irish descent, emigrated to New York in 1755 with his parents and siblings, first settling in Albany.  In 1766, he traveled to frontier Detroit and established a successful trading post with his brother, William.  By 1783, Macomb had shifted the majority of his business to New York City (pop. 20,000), and it was there that he bought several lots on Broadway (current Wall Street District) for construction of what would be called one of the finest private buildings in the city.  His need for cash prompted Macomb to lease his new house in 1790 to President George Washington and it would serve as the presidential mansion from February 1790 to late August.  Macomb was one of several early Americans who looked to land speculations as a way to make easy money.  In 1791, he contracted for and purchased 3.6 million acres of New York state, an equivalent of 12% of the state’s surface for approximately $.08 per acre.  It is still referred to as Macomb’s Purchase.  Just months later, however, mired in debt, unable to provide for such a large household, 17 children in all, Macomb succumbed to his debtors and was forced into bankruptcy.  He would never recover his assets or his status in society.  Regardless of his fate, Alexander Macomb was a pioneer of early American business and politics.  He strove to succeed in luxurious fashion, compelled his counterparts to do the same, and paved the way for a new generation of American businessmen.

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