Frederick Baldwin Adams
Encyclopedia
Frederick Baldwin Adams (5 February 1878 - 23 October 1961) was an American businessman and philanthropist.
Adams was born in Toledo, Ohio
, the son of a bank cashier. His father had moved to Ohio
from New England
. Frederick was sent east to attend St. Paul's School
in Concord, New Hampshire
, at the age of fourteen. From St. Paul's, he went to Yale
, where he received an AB in 1900. He was a member of the Skull and Bones
society.
His first job after Yale was as a claim agent for the Mohawk Division of the New York Central Railroad
. In 1902 he became secretary to Robert C. Pruyn
, and the following year became secretary of the Union Trust Company of Albany
. It was only a few years later when Robert Pruyn would hire Charles Edward Adams
as his secretary, Frederick's brother, a graduate of St. Paul's and a member of Skull and Bones. Adams moved to New York City
in 1905 to become a partner in the firm of Potter, Choate and Prentice.
During his lifetime he served as Chairman of the West Indies Sugar Corp. He was also connected with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
; the Louisville & Nashville Railroad; the Clinchfield Railroad
; and the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad. Adams also branched out into other areas, becoming involved with the Union Trust Company of Albany; the Wright Aeronautical Company; the Air Reduction Company; Potter, Choate & Prentice; and Schroder, Rockefeller & Co.
Adams was Chairman of the Board of the Air Reduction Company. It was engaged in the manufacture and sale of oxygen
, acetylene
, and other gasses and oxy-acetylene cutting and welding equipment. It was the leading company of its field, and had links to Lee, Higginson & Co., the Chase Manhattan Bank
, and the Guaranty Trust Co. In 1930, the company made over $5 million in profits.
Adams was involved with the Boys Club of New York, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, the Fifth Avenue Hospital, and served on the planning committee of the Roosevelt National Memorial. He was a member of the Knickerbocker Club
of New York.
With the small fortune he made from his business interests, Adams maintained a house in New York
, a summer home on Campobello Island, and a plantation on the Cape Fear River
.
In 1907, he was married to Ellen Walters Delano, a first cousin of President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They had two children: Frederick Baldwin Adams, Jr.
, who graduated from Yale; and Laura, later Mrs. John Eastman, Jr.
Adams died in 1961 at River House, New York City
, from a long illness.
Adams was born in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, the son of a bank cashier. His father had moved to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
from New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Frederick was sent east to attend St. Paul's School
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
, at the age of fourteen. From St. Paul's, he went to Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he received an AB in 1900. He was a member of the Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
society.
His first job after Yale was as a claim agent for the Mohawk Division of the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
. In 1902 he became secretary to Robert C. Pruyn
Robert C. Pruyn
Robert Clarence Pruyn , of Albany, New York, was an influential American inventor, banker, businessman, and politician....
, and the following year became secretary of the Union Trust Company of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. It was only a few years later when Robert Pruyn would hire Charles Edward Adams
Charles Edward Adams
Charles Edward Adams was Minnesota's 25th Lieutenant Governor, serving from June 25, 1929 – January 6, 1931. He was a Republican.-References:**...
as his secretary, Frederick's brother, a graduate of St. Paul's and a member of Skull and Bones. Adams moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1905 to become a partner in the firm of Potter, Choate and Prentice.
During his lifetime he served as Chairman of the West Indies Sugar Corp. He was also connected with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
; the Louisville & Nashville Railroad; the Clinchfield Railroad
Clinchfield Railroad
The Clinchfield Railroad was an operating and holding company for the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway . The line ran from the coalfields of Virginia and Elkhorn City, Kentucky, to the textile mills of South Carolina...
; and the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad. Adams also branched out into other areas, becoming involved with the Union Trust Company of Albany; the Wright Aeronautical Company; the Air Reduction Company; Potter, Choate & Prentice; and Schroder, Rockefeller & Co.
Adams was Chairman of the Board of the Air Reduction Company. It was engaged in the manufacture and sale of oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
, acetylene
Acetylene
Acetylene is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne. This colorless gas is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is unstable in pure form and thus is usually handled as a solution.As an alkyne, acetylene is unsaturated because...
, and other gasses and oxy-acetylene cutting and welding equipment. It was the leading company of its field, and had links to Lee, Higginson & Co., the Chase Manhattan Bank
Chase (bank)
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., doing business as Chase, is a national bank that constitutes the consumer and commercial banking subsidiary of financial services firm JPMorgan Chase. The bank was known as Chase Manhattan Bank until it merged with J.P. Morgan & Co. in 2000...
, and the Guaranty Trust Co. In 1930, the company made over $5 million in profits.
Adams was involved with the Boys Club of New York, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, the Fifth Avenue Hospital, and served on the planning committee of the Roosevelt National Memorial. He was a member of the Knickerbocker Club
Knickerbocker Club
The Knickerbocker Club , is a gentlemen's club in New York City founded in 1871. Its current location, a neo-Georgian structure at 2 East 62nd Street, was commissioned in 1913. It was designed by William Adams Delano and Chester Holmes Aldrich...
of New York.
With the small fortune he made from his business interests, Adams maintained a house in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, a summer home on Campobello Island, and a plantation on the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
.
In 1907, he was married to Ellen Walters Delano, a first cousin of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They had two children: Frederick Baldwin Adams, Jr.
Frederick Baldwin Adams, Jr.
Frederick Baldwin Adams, Jr. was an American bibliophile and the director of the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York City from 1938–1969....
, who graduated from Yale; and Laura, later Mrs. John Eastman, Jr.
Adams died in 1961 at River House, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, from a long illness.