Franklin Fairbanks
Encyclopedia
Franklin Fairbanks was an American
businessman, political figure, and one of the founders and first trustee
s of Rollins College
. The president of Fairbanks Scales
, he was also a philanthropist
and a co-founder of the city of Winter Park, Florida
.
Fairbanks was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
in 1828.
At age 18, he entered Fairbanks Scales, the family scales manufacturing business. He became president of the company in 1888. Fairbanks was also an officer and director in a number of mining, manufacturing, banking, and telegraph businesses. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
and served as speaker
from 1872 to 1874.
Fairbanks was a trustee of St. Johnsbury Academy
. He donated the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium
to the town of St. Johnsbury. With the museum came his collection of natural science specimens and related artifacts.
Fairbanks came to Winter Park, Florida
in 1881 to 1882 with his friend and business associate, Charles H. Morse, who was also from St. Johnsbury. He was one of the first investors to purchase lakefront property. Fairbanks was one of the first trustees of Rollins College and contributed towards its founding.
He died in 1895. His house in St. Johnsbury at 30 Western Avenue is on the list of the National Register of Historic Places
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, political figure, and one of the founders and first trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
s of Rollins College
Rollins College
Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....
. The president of Fairbanks Scales
Fairbanks Scales
Two brothers, Thaddeus and Erastus Fairbanks founded the Fairbanks Scales manufacturing company in 1830 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.Fairbanks employs over 500 employees nationwide. It maintains service centers, distributors and sales offices in 49 states and in over 25 countries...
, he was also a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and a co-founder of the city of Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Fairbanks was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
in 1828.
At age 18, he entered Fairbanks Scales, the family scales manufacturing business. He became president of the company in 1888. Fairbanks was also an officer and director in a number of mining, manufacturing, banking, and telegraph businesses. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
and served as speaker
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives is the Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont Legislature....
from 1872 to 1874.
Fairbanks was a trustee of St. Johnsbury Academy
St. Johnsbury Academy
St. Johnsbury Academy is an independent, private, coeducational, non-profit boarding and day school located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, USA, enrolling students in grades 9-12. It was founded in 1842 by Thaddeus Fairbanks, and accepts the majority of its students through one of the nation's oldest...
. He donated the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium
Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium
The Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium is a combination museum and planetarium located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. It was founded in 1889, by Franklin Fairbanks. It is organized into 3 different departments: Natural Science, Historical, Ethnological. In addition, there is also a planetarium and...
to the town of St. Johnsbury. With the museum came his collection of natural science specimens and related artifacts.
Fairbanks came to Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1881 to 1882 with his friend and business associate, Charles H. Morse, who was also from St. Johnsbury. He was one of the first investors to purchase lakefront property. Fairbanks was one of the first trustees of Rollins College and contributed towards its founding.
He died in 1895. His house in St. Johnsbury at 30 Western Avenue is on the list of the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.