Henry Lee Higginson (1834–1919) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and founder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to a wealthy family. He attended Harvard College, graduating in 1855. After college, he worked in his father's banking business, eventually becoming a partner. In 1881, Higginson founded the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which he funded for the first few years. He was also a major donor to Harvard University, and he founded the Massachusetts General Hospital. He was a major supporter of the Union cause during the Civil War, and he was a member of the Massachusetts legislature from 1868 to 1872. Higginson was a major philanthropist, donating to many causes, including the Boston Public Library, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was also a major supporter of the arts, and he was a patron of the Boston Opera House. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and he was awarded the Order of the Crown of Italy in 1891. He died in 1919.
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