Hulett C. Merritt

Hulett C. Merritt
Born	August 17, 1872 Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	January 13, 1956 Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Resting place	Mountain View Cemetery, Altadena, California, U.S.
Residence	Hulett C. Merritt mansion
Occupation	Businessman
Net worth	US$6 million (1956)
Spouse(s)	Rosaline Ollivier
Children	1 son
Parent(s)	Louis J. Merritt

Hulett C. Merritt (August 17, 1872 – January 13, 1956) was an American real estate developer, investor, rancher and art collector. He sold real estate in his hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, developed Texas City, Texas with other businessmen, and invested in real estate in Los Angeles, California, where he built the Merritt Building. He was a director and large shareholder of U.S. Steel. As a majority shareholder of the United Electric and Power Company, he installed electricity and gas in 17 cities in California, including Santa Barbara and San Diego. He owned a large ranch in Tulare County.

Hulett C. Merritt was born on August 17, 1872 in Duluth, Minnesota. His father, Louis J. Merritt, discovered the Mesabi Range with others. He was also a business partner of John D. Rockefeller, with whom he invested in mining, railroads and steamships in the Great Lakes. Merritt had a brother, Lewis N. Merritt, and two sisters.

Merritt began his career by working for his father at the age of 16. Father and son built the Mesabi, Duluth and Northwestern Railway. Upon his father's death, Merritt inherited the entire Mesabi Range, and he became Rockefeller's partner. The two men subsequently sold the range to U.S. Steel for US$81 million.

Merritt sold real estate in Duluth, and he developed Texas City, Texas with other investors. Upon moving to California in 1897, he invested in real estate in Los Angeles, California. He built the Merritt Building in Downtown Los Angeles in 1915. He also built a racing speedway, and as an amateur he once won a race against Barney Oldfield. Additionally, he owned an antique store in Pasadena, California.

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