Robert W. Welch, Jr.
| Robert W. Welch Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Robert Henry Winborne Welch Jr. December 1, 1899 Chowan County, North Carolina |
| Died | January 6, 1985 (aged 85) |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater |
University of North Carolina |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Employer | James O. Welch Company |
| Known for | Founding the John Birch Society |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Marian Probert Welch |
| Children | Two sons |
| Parent(s) | Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. W. Welch Sr. |
University of North Carolina
United States Naval Academy
Robert Henry Winborne Welch Jr. (December 1, 1899 – January 6, 1985) was an American businessman, political activist, and author. He was independently wealthy following his retirement and used that wealth to sponsor anti-Communist causes. He co-founded the conservative group the John Birch Society (JBS) in 1958 and tightly controlled it until his death. He became a highly controversial target of criticism by liberals, as well as by some leading conservatives such as William F. Buckley Jr.
Welch was born in Chowan County in northeastern North Carolina, south of the Virginia border. He was the son of Lina Verona (James) and Robert Henry Winborne Welch Sr. As a child, he was considered "gifted" and received his early education at home from his mother, a school teacher. His boyhood home was near Woodville, North Carolina. Stockton was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. He enrolled in high school at the age of ten and was admitted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at the age of twelve. Welch was a fundamentalist Baptist and, by his own admission, was "insufferable" in his attempts to convert his fellow students to the cause of Jesus Christ. He later became a Unitarian, remaining so for most his life. Welch attended the United States Naval Academy and Harvard Law School but dropped out of both institutions before graduating. He would later assert this was because of his opposition to the political leanings of the instructors.
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