William Ziegler Jr.

William J. Ziegler Jr. (July 21, 1891 – March 3, 1958) was an American business executive, philanthropist, polo player, yachtsman, and a Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder.

Born William Conrad Brandt in Muscatine, Iowa to the half-brother of William Ziegler who adopted the boy at age 5 and renamed him William Ziegler Jr. While studying at Wadham College, Oxford as a 1910 Rhodes Scholar, he was a non-starting participant at the hammer throw and shot put events at the 1912 Summer Olympics.

He graduated from Columbia University and then Harvard University. Inheriting over half of his father's $30 million estate when his father died, he was then president of Royal Baking Powder Company until it merged into Standard Brands in 1929. He was also chairman on many boards: American Maize-Products, Huttig Manufacturing (sash and door company of Muscatine, Iowa), Southworth Management, Realty Administration Corp. He was also president of the Great Island Holding Company and Park Avenue Operating Company (which was an acquisition vehicle for the 55th Street mansion property).

After his mother, Matilda, died, he took over her Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind publishing, American Foundation for the Blind, and other charities.

He was listed as living at his home on Great Island, Noroton, Connecticut in 1917, when he was treated for appendicitis.

He married his first wife, Gladys in 1912, then lived in the William Ziegler House, a New York City mansion at 2 East 63rd Street they had designed by Frederick Sterner in 1919. It still exists.

He and his second wife, Helen Martin Murphy (married 1927), lived in the William and Helen Ziegler House on 55th Street, which he had designed by William Lawrence Bottomley and was built in 1926–1927. It still exists.