Widener, Peter A.B.

Widener, Peter A.B.

▪ American businessman and philanthropist
in full  Peter Arrell Brown Widener  
born Nov. 13, 1834, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.
died Nov. 6, 1915, Elkins Park, Pa.

      American transportation magnate and philanthropist.

      The son of poor parents, Widener began his working career as a butcher, eventually establishing a successful chain of meat stores. At the same time, he became active in Philadelphia politics, rising to the position of city treasurer in 1873. Later, making good use of his political connections, he and William L. Elkins gained control of Philadelphia's street railways, consolidating and modernizing the system in the process. They also invested in street railways in New York City, Chicago, and other cities as well as in public utilities around the United States—at their height presiding over holdings worth $1,500,000,000. Widener also participated in the organization of the United States Steel Corporation and the American Tobacco Company.

      The possessor of a fortune estimated at $35,000,000, Widener donated more than $11,000,000 to various philanthropies, primarily in Philadelphia. His large art collection, which contained many masterpieces of European painting and a remarkable assemblage of Chinese porcelains and other decorative objects, was donated to the National Gallery (National Gallery of Art), Washington, D.C., in 1942.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Widener University School of Law — Established 1971 School type Private Parent endowment $58,431,563 Dean Linda L. Ammons Location Wilmington, Delaware Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, US Enrollment …   Wikipedia

  • Peter Arrell Brown Widener — (November 13, 1834 November 6, 1915) was an American businessman and head of the prominent Widener family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. BiographyA merchant who supplied meat to the Union Army during the United States Civil War, Widener grew to… …   Wikipedia

  • Widener — can refer to:Places* Widener Library, of Harvard University * Widener University, a private university in Chester, Pennsylvania * Widener, Arkansas, a town in St. Francis County, Arkansas, United StatesPeople* George Widener, an autistic savant * …   Wikipedia

  • Peter Yarrow — in 2008 Background information Born May 31, 1938 (1938 05 31) (age 73) …   Wikipedia

  • Widener — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Peter Widener (1834–1915), US amerikanischer Transportunternehmer und Kunstsammler George Widener (1861–1912), US amerikanischer Geschäftsmann und Bankier Harry Widener (1885–1912), US amerikanischer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Peter Yarrow — Peter Yarrow, 2008 Peter Yarrow (* 31. Mai 1938 in New York) ist ein US amerikanischer Sänger und Mitglied der vor allem in den 1960ern überaus erfolgreichen Folk Gruppe Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow schrieb zusammen mit Leonard Lipton das… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Peter J. Barnes III — (born April 26, 1956) is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in New Jersey s General Assembly since 2007, where he represents the 18th legislative district. Barnes serves in the Assembly on the Judiciary Committee (as Vice Chair) …   Wikipedia

  • Widener family — The American Widener family of Peter Arrell Brown Widener (1834 1915) and his wife Hannah Josephine Dunton (1836 1896) were from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and were one of the wealthiest families in the United States. In 1883 Widener was part of… …   Wikipedia

  • Joseph E. Widener — Infobox Person name = Joseph Early Widener imagesize = caption = birth date = birth date|1871|8|19 birth place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States flagicon|USA death date = death date and age|1943|10|26|1871|8|19|mf=y death place = Elkins… …   Wikipedia

  • George Widener — George Dunton Widener (* 16. Juni 1861 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; † 15. April 1912 im Nordatlantik) war ein US amerikanischer Geschäftsmann, Bankier und Mitglied einer der wohlhabendsten und einflussreichsten Familien Philadelphias.… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”