Edsel Ford
| Edsel Ford | |
|---|---|
Edsel Ford,1921
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| President of the Ford Motor Company | |
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In office 1919–1943 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Ford |
| Succeeded by | Henry Ford II |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Edsel Bryant Ford November 6, 1893 Detroit, Michigan |
| Died | May 26, 1943 (aged 49) Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1916–1943; his death) |
| Relations |
Henry Ford (father) Clara Jane Bryant (mother) Edsel Ford II (grandson) William Clay Ford Jr. (grandson) |
| Children |
Henry Ford II Benson Ford Josephine Ford William Clay Ford Sr. |
| Occupation | President and CEO of the Ford Motor Company |
Edsel Bryant Ford (November 6, 1893 – May 26, 1943) was the son of Clara Jane Bryant Ford and the only recognized child of Henry Ford. He was the president of Ford Motor Company from 1919 to his death in 1943. His eldest son was Henry Ford II.
Edsel worked closely with his father, as sole heir to the business, but was keen to develop cars more exciting than the Model T ("Tin Lizzie"), in line with his personal tastes. Even as president, he had trouble persuading the older man to allow any departure from this formula. Only a change in market conditions enabled him to develop the more fashionable Model A in 1927. Edsel also founded the Mercury division and was responsible for the Lincoln Zephyr and Lincoln Continental. He introduced important features, such as hydraulic brakes, and greatly strengthened the company’s overseas production.
Edsel was a major art benefactor in Detroit and also financed Admiral Richard Byrd’s polar explorations. He died of stomach cancer aged 49, with his father resuming presidency of the company, before handing it over to Henry Ford II. The range of cars launched by Ford in 1957 under the name Edsel is remembered as one of the classic marketing failures.
Edsel Ford was born in Detroit, Michigan, US, as the only child of Clara and Henry Ford, being named for Edsel Ruddiman, one of Henry Ford's closest childhood friends.
Edsel was groomed to take over the family automobile business, and grew up tinkering on cars with his father. He became secretary of Ford in 1915, and married Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896–1976), the niece of department store owner J. L. Hudson, on November 1, 1916. Together, they had four children: Henry Ford II (1917–1987), Benson Ford (1919–1978), Josephine Clay Ford (1923–2005), and William Clay Ford (1925–2014). They made their home at 2171 Iroquois Street, in the Indian Village neighborhood of Detroit.
Ford went to The Hotchkiss School, in Lakeville, Connecticut, and the Detroit University School. His family donated to both institutions. The school library at Hotchkiss is named the Edsel Ford Memorial Library.
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Wikipedia