Charles Stewart Mott
Encyclopedia
Charles Stewart Mott was a businessman, philanthropist and the 50th and 55th Mayor of Flint, Michigan
.
, Essex County
, N.J.
to John Coon Mott and Isabella Turnball Stewart.
He went to and graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology
in 1897 with an engineering degree. He began working for his father and uncle, Fred Mott who had purchased a bicycle wheel making business (Weston-Mott Co.). After the death of his father, C. S. Mott was appointed superintendent of the company by his uncle. C. S. Mott moved to Flint, Michigan
in 1907 after an invite by Billy Durant to move his company, Weston-Mott Co. to the city. Weston-Mott later merged with the Buick Motor Company making him the original partner in the creation of the General Motors Corporation). The company was later bought by General Motors in exchange for GM stock. In 1921, Mott became Chief of the GM Advisory Staff at the Detroit Headquarters and served on the GM Board of Directors for 60 years from 1913 until his death in 1973.
He was Mayor
of City of Flint
in 1912-1913 and defeated for reelection in 1914 but was once again elected in 1918 and he was Vice-President of General Motors in 1916.
In 1920, he ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan. While in 1924 and 1940, he was a Michigan delegate to Republican National Convention. He was selected as a Republican Michigan Presidential Elector candidate in 1964.
Waterford Mott High School, Waterford, Michigan. Named in his honor.
The Charles S. Mott Prize
for the cause of cancer is one of a trio of prestigious research prizes annually awarded by the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation.
A building on the University of Chicago
's campus is named after him, as well as a building at Kettering University
.
Mott Lake, a man-made lake on the Flint River
that serves as the centerpiece of the Genesee Recreation Area just northeast of Flint, is named after him.
, and Maryanne Mott).
. The main residence and grounds encompass approximately 34 acres (137,593.2 m²), 18 extensively landscaped. They include perennial, rose, cut flower and demonstration gardens, and an orchard with 29 varieties of heritage apples. The original gatehouse, barn and chicken coop complete the estate. The Ruth Mott Foundation currently maintains Applewood .
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
.
Early life
Charles Mott was born on June 2, 1875 in NewarkNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
, N.J.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
to John Coon Mott and Isabella Turnball Stewart.
He went to and graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
in 1897 with an engineering degree. He began working for his father and uncle, Fred Mott who had purchased a bicycle wheel making business (Weston-Mott Co.). After the death of his father, C. S. Mott was appointed superintendent of the company by his uncle. C. S. Mott moved to Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
in 1907 after an invite by Billy Durant to move his company, Weston-Mott Co. to the city. Weston-Mott later merged with the Buick Motor Company making him the original partner in the creation of the General Motors Corporation). The company was later bought by General Motors in exchange for GM stock. In 1921, Mott became Chief of the GM Advisory Staff at the Detroit Headquarters and served on the GM Board of Directors for 60 years from 1913 until his death in 1973.
He was Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of City of Flint
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
in 1912-1913 and defeated for reelection in 1914 but was once again elected in 1918 and he was Vice-President of General Motors in 1916.
In 1920, he ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Michigan. While in 1924 and 1940, he was a Michigan delegate to Republican National Convention. He was selected as a Republican Michigan Presidential Elector candidate in 1964.
Honors/affiliations
Charles Mott was a member of the following groups: American Legion, United Spanish War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Freemasons, Elks, Kiwanis, Moose and Rotary.Philanthropy
In 1926, Mott established the C.S. Mott Foundation. Charles Stewart Mott, High School, Warren, Michigan. Named in his honor.Waterford Mott High School, Waterford, Michigan. Named in his honor.
The Charles S. Mott Prize
Charles S. Mott Prize
The $250,000 Charles S. Mott Prize was awarded annually by the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation. The Mott Prize was one of a trio scientific prizes entirely devoted to cancer research . They were generally considered the most prestigious awards in cancer research...
for the cause of cancer is one of a trio of prestigious research prizes annually awarded by the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation.
A building on the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
's campus is named after him, as well as a building at Kettering University
Kettering University
Kettering University is a university in Flint, Michigan, offering degrees in engineering, math, science, and business. The campus is located along the Flint River on property that used to be the main manufacturing location for General Motors...
.
Mott Lake, a man-made lake on the Flint River
Flint River (Michigan)
The Flint River is a river in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan in the United States. It flows through the city of Flint and the counties of Genesee, Lapeer and Saginaw.- Course :...
that serves as the centerpiece of the Genesee Recreation Area just northeast of Flint, is named after him.
Personal life
Charles Mott married Ethel Culbert Harding in 1900 and they had three children, Aimee, Elsa and C. S. Harding, before Ethel died in 1924. After a brief second marriage, he went on to marry his sixth cousin Ruth Rawlings, in 1934 by whom he also had three children (Susan Elizabeth, Stewart RawlingsStewart Rawlings Mott
Stewart Rawlings Mott Born in Flint, Michigan was a philanthropist who founded the Stewart R. Mott Charitable Trust...
, and Maryanne Mott).
Applewood (Mott Estate)
His Flint, Michigan estate, Applewood, was built in 1916 as a self-sustaining farm for the Charles Stewart Mott Family and is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The main residence and grounds encompass approximately 34 acres (137,593.2 m²), 18 extensively landscaped. They include perennial, rose, cut flower and demonstration gardens, and an orchard with 29 varieties of heritage apples. The original gatehouse, barn and chicken coop complete the estate. The Ruth Mott Foundation currently maintains Applewood .