Van Lear Black
| Van Lear Black | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 December 1875 |
| Died | 18 August 1930 Atlantic Shore |
| Cause of death | Fell off Yacht Sabalo |
| Occupation | Chairman of the board of the A.S. Abell Company |
| Known for | Early civilian world air travel |
| Net worth | $3,000,000 |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Board member of | Consolidation Coal Company, A.S. Abell Company, Fidelity Trust and Deposit Company, Citizen's National Bank |
| Spouse(s) | Jessie Gary Black |
| Children |
|
| Parent(s) | H. Crawford Black, Ida Perry |
| Relatives | Harry Black |
Van Lear Black (18 December 1875 – 18 August 1930) was an American publisher and civil aviation pioneer.
Black was born in Cumberland, Maryland as part of a wealthy family with a lineage to the American Revolution. He married Jessie Gary and had four children. Gary was the daughter of James A. Gary, Postmaster General under McKinley. In 1910 Black bought the estate "Folly Quarter" in Ellicott City, Maryland now known as the Shrine of St. Anthony. He restored it to its original condition and used it to entertain 500-700 political and publishing guests at a time, later selling it in 1924. Black was insured for $750,000 at the time of his death during the Great Depression. Black's wife died at the age of 73 in Baltimore. Black was considered to be the wealthiest person in Maryland at the time of his death.
Black got his start in banking at the age of eighteen as a clerk with the Fidelity Trust and Deposit Company, eventually becoming president in 1926. Black became involved with the Consolidation Coal Company as a director from 1906 to 1927. In 1920, he employed his connected friend Franklin D. Roosevelt while he also campaigned politically.
In 1915 Black became Chairman of the Board of A.S. Abell Company, publisher of The Baltimore Sun, until his death in 1930. Black worked side by side with his brother Harry bringing the newspaper to profitability. Harry C. Black took over after Van Lear Black's death until 1956, and Van Lear's son, Gary Black Sr. took over until 1984.
Black was not inclined to fly in the aircraft owned by his newspaper, but he changed his mind about aviation over time. He provided financing for Byrd's expedition flight to the North Pole in 1926. In each Byrd flight, he carried a Maryland flag provided by Black. When approached again for Byrd's Antarctic flight, Black considered the flight too risky, and instead offered to pay Byrd's widow $25,000 if he did not return. Byrd later sued Black's estate for the money for the completion of the trip after Black's death at sea.
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