Charles Ranlett Flint
Encyclopedia
Charles Ranlett Flint was an American
businessman, best known as the founder of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company which later became IBM
. For his financial dealings he earned the moniker "Father of Trusts".
, Maine
. His father, Benjamin Chapman, had changed the family name to Flint after being adopted by an uncle on his mother's side. The family moved from Maine to New York
where his father ran the family's mercantile firm Chapman & Flint, which had been founded in 1837.
, and in 1871 entered the shipping business as a partner in Gilchrest, Flint & Co., and later W.R. Grace & Co. after a merger
.
From 1876 to 1879, he served as the Chilean consul at New York City. He also served as consul general to the United States for Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
In 1892, he merged several companies to form U. S. Rubber. In 1899 he repeated the same with Adams Chewing Gum, Chiclets
, Dentyne
, and Beemans to form American Chicle. He was also responsible for the formation of American Woolen in 1899.
He negotiated the Wright Brothers
' first sales of airplanes overseas.
His biggest achievement came in 1911 when he successfully merged four companies to form the CTR or Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company. In 1924, the company was re-christened as International Business Machines and went on to dominate the computer industry in the USA for several decades. Flint served on the board of directors of IBM until 1930 when he retired. He died on February 26, 1934.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, best known as the founder of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company which later became IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
. For his financial dealings he earned the moniker "Father of Trusts".
Early life and family
Flint was born on January 24, 1850 in ThomastonThomaston
Thomaston is the name of several places in the United States of America:*Thomaston, Alabama*Thomaston, Connecticut*Thomaston, Georgia*Thomaston, Indiana*Thomaston, Maine, a town**Thomaston , Maine, census-designated place within the town...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. His father, Benjamin Chapman, had changed the family name to Flint after being adopted by an uncle on his mother's side. The family moved from Maine to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where his father ran the family's mercantile firm Chapman & Flint, which had been founded in 1837.
Business career
In 1868, Charles Flint graduated from the Polytechnic Institute in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, and in 1871 entered the shipping business as a partner in Gilchrest, Flint & Co., and later W.R. Grace & Co. after a merger
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
.
From 1876 to 1879, he served as the Chilean consul at New York City. He also served as consul general to the United States for Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
In 1892, he merged several companies to form U. S. Rubber. In 1899 he repeated the same with Adams Chewing Gum, Chiclets
Chiclets
Chiclets is a brand of candy coated chewing gum made by Cadbury Adams. The colors of chiclets are: yellow, green, orange, red, white, and pink. The product's name is derived from Nahuatl word tziktli, in English chicle, the substance from which chewing gum was traditionally made...
, Dentyne
Dentyne
Dentyne is a series of brands of chewing gum available in several countries globally. It is owned by Cadbury Adams, a division of Cadbury.In 1899, a New York City druggist named Franklin V. Canning formulated a chewing gum which he promoted as an aid to oral hygiene. "To prevent decay, To sweeten...
, and Beemans to form American Chicle. He was also responsible for the formation of American Woolen in 1899.
He negotiated the Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
' first sales of airplanes overseas.
His biggest achievement came in 1911 when he successfully merged four companies to form the CTR or Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company. In 1924, the company was re-christened as International Business Machines and went on to dominate the computer industry in the USA for several decades. Flint served on the board of directors of IBM until 1930 when he retired. He died on February 26, 1934.