Edward A. Pierce
Encyclopedia
Edward A. Pierce was an American businessman and stock broker. Pierce was most notable for leading the firm of A.A. Housman & Company through the 1920s and 1930s and turning the firm into the largest brokerage in the U.S. The firm, which was renamed E.A. Pierce & Co.
in recognition of Pierce was one of the predecessors of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith.
and attended Bowdoin College
before dropping out. The college would confer an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Pierce in 1956.
Pierce, who had worked as the manager of a lumber business in his twenties, gave up a comfortable $100 a week salary to become a clerk at A.A. Housman & Company in 1901. In 1921, Pierce became sole managing partner of the firm and led it through a major transformation becoming one of the leading Wall Street brokerage firms. In 1929, the firm was renamed E.A. Pierce & Co.
in honor of Pierce's role in leading the firm.
E.A. Pierce & Co.
E.A. Pierce & Co. was a securities brokerage firm based in New York City. Originally founded as A.A. Housman & Co., the firm was renamed for Edward A. Pierce in 1927. In 1930, following the stock market crash of 1929 E.A. Pierce acquired the brokerage business of Merrill Lynch. Ten years later,...
in recognition of Pierce was one of the predecessors of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith.
Biography
Pierce was born in 1874 in Orrington, MaineOrrington, Maine
Orrington is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,526 at the 2000 census.-History:Orrington was originally part of Condustiegg Plantation, which also included the present-day cities of Bangor and Brewer. Orrington was incorporated as a town in 1788 with its major...
and attended Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
before dropping out. The college would confer an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Pierce in 1956.
Pierce, who had worked as the manager of a lumber business in his twenties, gave up a comfortable $100 a week salary to become a clerk at A.A. Housman & Company in 1901. In 1921, Pierce became sole managing partner of the firm and led it through a major transformation becoming one of the leading Wall Street brokerage firms. In 1929, the firm was renamed E.A. Pierce & Co.
E.A. Pierce & Co.
E.A. Pierce & Co. was a securities brokerage firm based in New York City. Originally founded as A.A. Housman & Co., the firm was renamed for Edward A. Pierce in 1927. In 1930, following the stock market crash of 1929 E.A. Pierce acquired the brokerage business of Merrill Lynch. Ten years later,...
in honor of Pierce's role in leading the firm.