R. Douglas Stuart
Encyclopedia
Robert Douglas Stuart was a United States
businessman who served as United States Ambassador to Canada from 1953 to 1956.
in 1886, the son of Robert Stuart
and his wife Margaret. In 1899, Stuart's father and his business partner Henry Parsons Crowell
used a proxy fight
to gain control of the American Cereal Company from Ferdinand Schumacher
. In 1901, they renamed the company the Quaker Oats Company
, to take advantage of the brand previously built up by Crowell's Quaker Mill Company
. Stuart's father was thus one of the co-founders of the Quaker Oats Company.
From 1901 to 1921, Robert Stuart had been responsible for managing the Quaker Oats Company's facilities, while Crowell had been responsible for marketing. Douglas Stuart's older brother, John Stuart
, was groomed to take over Robert Stuart's responsibilities, while Douglas Stuart trained under Crowell. In 1922, the elder Stuart and Crowell retired and John and Douglas Stuart took over the day-to-day operations of the company.
Stuart was active politically as a Republican
. His son, R. Douglas Stuart, Jr.
, was the founder of the America First Committee
, which opposed United States participation in World War II
, in September 1940.
After World War II, Stuart took Quaker Oats' marketing in a bold new direction, with Quaker Oats becoming one of the first companies to employ the services of more than one advertising agency
.
Besides Quaker Oats, Stuart was active in the community. He was a delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention
. He was also long-time president of the Chicago Council of the Boy Scouts of America
.
In 1953, President of the United States
Dwight Eisenhower named Stuart United States Ambassador to Canada. Stuart presented his credentials to Vincent Massey
, Governor General of Canada
, on July 15, 1953. He served in Ottawa
until May 4, 1956.
After serving as ambassador, Stuart returned to Quaker Oats. He retired as chairman of the board
in 1962.
In addition to his son, Stuart and his wife had a daughter, Anne, who would go on to marry Nebraska
politician Clifton Batchelder.
Stuart died at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois
on January 5, 1975.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who served as United States Ambassador to Canada from 1953 to 1956.
Biography
R. Douglas Stuart was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1886, the son of Robert Stuart
Robert Stuart (businessman)
Robert Stuart was a United States businessman who was one of the founders of the Quaker Oats Company.-Biography:Robert Stuart's father, John Stuart, opened a mill in Embro, Ontario in the mid-1850s. In 1873, Stuart and his father moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, opening an oatmeal mill there...
and his wife Margaret. In 1899, Stuart's father and his business partner Henry Parsons Crowell
Henry Parsons Crowell
Henry Parsons Crowell was an American businessman, founder of the Quaker Oats Company and a philanthropist.At the end of the 19th century, steam engines, telegraph and telephone systems, electricity and typewriters were part of the explosion of technology in America.- Character :Henry Parsons...
used a proxy fight
Proxy fight
A proxy fight or proxy battle is an event that may occur when a corporation's stockholders develop opposition to some aspect of the corporate governance, often focusing on directorial and management positions. Corporate activists may attempt to persuade shareholders to use their proxy votes A proxy...
to gain control of the American Cereal Company from Ferdinand Schumacher
Ferdinand Schumacher
Ferdinand Schumacher , aka The Oatmeal King, was a German immigrant, an American entrepreneur and one of the founders of companies which merged to become the Quaker Oats Company.-Biography:...
. In 1901, they renamed the company the Quaker Oats Company
Quaker Oats Company
The Quaker Oats Company is an American food conglomerate based in Chicago. It has been owned by Pepsico since 2001.-History:Quaker Oats was founded in 1901 by the merger of four oat mills:...
, to take advantage of the brand previously built up by Crowell's Quaker Mill Company
Quaker Mill Company
The Quaker Mill Company was a 19th-century American oat mill company in Ravenna, Ohio. After merging with three other companies in 1901, the company became the Quaker Oats Company, now a subsidiary of PepsiCo.-History:...
. Stuart's father was thus one of the co-founders of the Quaker Oats Company.
From 1901 to 1921, Robert Stuart had been responsible for managing the Quaker Oats Company's facilities, while Crowell had been responsible for marketing. Douglas Stuart's older brother, John Stuart
John Stuart (CEO)
John Stuart was the chief executive officer of the Quaker Oats Company from 1922 to 1953.-Biography:John Stuart was born in Chicago in 1877, the son of Robert Stuart and his wife Margaret. He was educated at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. As a teenager, he would work in his...
, was groomed to take over Robert Stuart's responsibilities, while Douglas Stuart trained under Crowell. In 1922, the elder Stuart and Crowell retired and John and Douglas Stuart took over the day-to-day operations of the company.
Stuart was active politically as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. His son, R. Douglas Stuart, Jr.
R. Douglas Stuart, Jr.
Robert Douglas Stuart, Jr. was an heir to the Quaker Oats Company fortune; the founder of the America First Committee in 1940; CEO of Quaker Oats from 1966 to 1981; and United States Ambassador to Norway from 1984 to 1989.-Biography:Stuart was born in Winnetka,...
, was the founder of the America First Committee
America First Committee
The America First Committee was the foremost non-interventionist pressure group against the American entry into World War II. Peaking at 800,000 members, it was likely the largest anti-war organization in American history. Started in 1940, it became defunct after the attack on Pearl Harbor in...
, which opposed United States participation in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in September 1940.
After World War II, Stuart took Quaker Oats' marketing in a bold new direction, with Quaker Oats becoming one of the first companies to employ the services of more than one advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
.
Besides Quaker Oats, Stuart was active in the community. He was a delegate to the 1952 Republican National Convention
1952 Republican National Convention
The 1952 Republican National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois from July 7 to July 11, 1952 and nominated the popular general and war hero Dwight D...
. He was also long-time president of the Chicago Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
.
In 1953, President of the United States
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....
Dwight Eisenhower named Stuart United States Ambassador to Canada. Stuart presented his credentials to Vincent Massey
Vincent Massey
Charles Vincent Massey was a Canadian lawyer and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 18th since Canadian Confederation....
, Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, on July 15, 1953. He served in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
until May 4, 1956.
After serving as ambassador, Stuart returned to Quaker Oats. He retired as chairman of the board
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
in 1962.
In addition to his son, Stuart and his wife had a daughter, Anne, who would go on to marry Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
politician Clifton Batchelder.
Stuart died at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
on January 5, 1975.