Bevis Longstreth

Bevis Longstreth
Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission
In office
1981–1983
PresidentRonald Reagan
Personal details
Born(1934-01-29)January 29, 1934
New Jersey, U.S.
DiedMay 2, 2026(2026-05-02) (aged 92)
Putnam County, New York, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Clare St. John
​
(m. 1963⁠–⁠2026)​
Children3
EducationPrinceton University (BS)
Harvard University (LLB)
Military service
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service
1956–1958
RankFirst Lieutenant

Bevis Longstreth Jr. (January 29, 1934 – May 2, 2026) was an American lawyer and former commissioner of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. He practiced law as a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton and taught on the faculty of Columbia Law School.

Early life and education

Longstreth was born in 1934 in New Jersey, as one of five children to Mary and Bevis Longstreth Sr. Bevis Longstreth, Sr. was an industrialist who founded Thiokol and served as the company's president from 1929 to his death in 1944.

Longstreth graduated from the Hill School in 1956 and served as a first lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps from 1956 to 1958. Longstreth earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School.

Career

Longstreth was a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton before being made a member of the SEC from 1981 to 1984. Longstreth returned to Debevoise & Plimpton after leaving the SEC, working there for another ten years.

In 1994, Longstreth became an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, teaching the regulation of financial institutions. He was also a frequent speaker and lecturer on various securities and corporate law topics. He served on various boards throughout his career, including the American Stock Exchange, the Council on Foreign Relations, Symphony Space, The New School, and the Highlands Current newspaper.. He has served in executive roles for Invesco, TIAA, and GMO LLC. He served on the Pension Finance Committee of the World Bank Group.

Longstreth has also written five books. He wrote the economics book Modern Investment Management and the Prudent Man Rule (1986) during his career and four works of historical fiction since retiring as a lawyer: Spindle and Bow (2005), Return of the Shade (2009), Boats Against the Current (2016) and Chains Across the River (2021).

Personal life and death

Longstreth married Clara St. John in 1963, with whom he had three children. As of 2015, the couple had nine grandchildren. A longtime resident of Putnam County, New York, Longstreth died on May 2, 2026, at the age of 92.

References

  1. ↑ Winfrey, Carey (1977-10-24). "The Elation and Agony Of a First ‐Time Starter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  2. ↑ Sloane, Leonard (22 June 1981). "BUSINESS PEOPLE; MAJOR ISSUES CLEAR TO S.E.C. NOMINEE". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  3. ↑ Myers, William Starr (2000). Prominent Families of New Jersey. Genealogical Publishing Com. ISBN 9780806350363.
  4. ↑ Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Historical Society. 1918.
  5. 1 2 Notice, Paid (2026-05-07). "Bevis Longstreth (1934-2026)". Retrieved 2026-07-18.
  6. ↑ "BUSINESS PEOPLE Longstreth, a Democrat, To Leave S.E.C. Early". New York Times. 1983-12-12. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  7. ↑ Farrell, William E.; Weaver Jr., Warren (1984-01-13). "BRIEFING". New York Times (published 1984-01-14). Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  8. ↑ Cuff, Daniel F. (1984-01-31). "BUSINESS PEOPLE" (published 1984-02-01). Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  9. ↑ "Bevis Longstreth".
  10. ↑ Rockwell, John (8 October 1981). "NEWS OF MUSIC; GRANT TO AID ORCHESTRA COMMISSIONS". Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  11. ↑ "Membership Roster". Archived from the original on 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  12. ↑ "About - Highlands Current". Retrieved 2017-05-11.
  13. ↑ "TIFF Education Foundation". Archived from the original on 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
  14. ↑ "Clara S. St. John Is Attended by 6 At Her Wedding; Teacher Is Married in Weston, Mass., Church to Bevis Longstreth". The New York Times. 1963-08-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  15. ↑ Schwartz, John (2015-06-05). "Norway Will Divest From Coal in Push Against Climate Change". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-07.