William Gurdon Saltonstall

Saltonstall was born on December 22, 1831, in Salem, Massachusetts, into the prominent Saltonstall family. He was a younger son of lawyer Nathaniel Saltonstall (1784–1838) and Caroline (née Saunders) Saltonstall (1793–1882).^[1] His brother Henry Saltonstall was treasurer of the Pacific Mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts.^[2]

His paternal grandparents were Dr. Nathaniel Saltonstall and Anna (née White) Saltonstall of Haverhill. His paternal uncle, U.S. Representative Leverett Saltonstall I, married his maternal aunt, Mary Elizabeth Saunders, and his first cousin was Leverett Saltonstall II, the Collector of Customs for the Port of Boston who married Rose Smith Lee, a sister of William's wife. His maternal grandparents were Thomas Saunders and Elizabeth (née Elkins) Saunders.^[3]

During the U.S. Civil War, Saltonstall commanded in succession two gunboats in the Federal Navy and rendered distinguished service.^[4] He "rose from the position of supercargo to master" and was appointed acting lieutenant of the Minnesota.^[1] During the blockade off of the Carolinas especially, he won commendation for "gallant conduct" while commander of a gunboat,^[2] and in the Little Washington affair made himself known as a brave officer.^[5] He left the Navy as Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Commander.^[6] He later became a Companion of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

After the war, he became a merchant and was treasurer of the York Manufacturing Company,^[5] as well as the Everett Mills.^[1] He also served as a director of the New England Bank, the Bell Telephone Company, and the Boylston Insurance Company.^[1]