George Fabyan
Encyclopedia
George Fabyan was a millionaire businessman who founded a private research laboratory. Fabyan's laboratory pioneered modern cryptography, though its initial findings, supporting Fabyan's belief that Francis Bacon
wrote Shakespeare's plays, were later disproven by the cryptographers who trained there.
Illinois Governor Richard Yates appointed George Fabyan to his military guard in 1901, giving him the honorary title of Colonel, by which he was generally later known.
In May of 1909 Fabyan was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun
by the Japanese government for his service to same. Fabyan had spent some time in Japan before 1905, developing relations with Japanese government and business representatives. He also was appointed as a liaison to General Kuroki Tamemoto
during the Russo-Japanese peace negotiations (Treaty of Portsmouth
) held in Maine in 1905. Between 1907 and 1910, he served as a host for General Kuroki, Baron Komura, and Prince Fushimi during their visits to Chicago.
, 40 miles west of Chicago, beginning with the purchase of 10 acres on the west bank of the Fox River. "Riverbank", as they named their estate, featured among other things, a Japanese Garden
, private zoo, Roman-style swimming pool, gardens, grottoes, greenhouses, a farm and the research laboratory. They lived on their estate from 1908 to 1939 in a farmhouse remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright
, which they called the Fabyan Villa
. This site also contained George's and Nelle's expansive private library and museum.
In 1914 Fabyan purchased and had moved a Dutch-style windmill built c. 1870 from its original farm site in York Center, IL to his estate. Known as the Fabyan Windmill
, this 5-story grist mill was restored to working order in 2004.
, which was popular at the time, that Shakespeare's plays were written by Francis Bacon
. He established a cryptologic research group to study alleged ciphers in Shakespeare's work. Known as Riverbank Laboratories
, it was the first privately owned research facility in the United States.
In 1916 William Nicholas Selig, a film producer, sued Fabyan on the grounds that profits from forthcoming films of Shakespeare's works, along with a film on the life of Shakespeare, would be damaged by Fabyan's claims that Bacon was the author. He had already obtained an injunction stopping the publication of a book by Fabyan on the subject. Selig was intending to capitalise on the celebrations organised for the upcoming 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, which occurred in April 1616. A Cook Country
Circuit Court
judge
, Richard Tuthill, found against Shakespeare's authorship. He determined that the bi-literal ciphers identified by Fabyan's analyst Elizabeth Wells Gallup
were authentic and that Francis Bacon was therefore the author of the works. Damages of $5,000 were awarded to Fabyan for the interference with the publication of the book. In the ensuing uproar, Tuthill rescinded his decision, and another judge, Judge Frederick A. Smith, dismissed the ruling. It was later suggested by the press that the case was concocted by both parties for publicity, since Selig and Fabyan were known to be old friends.
American cryptologist
William F. Friedman
worked for Fabyan, initially in the genetics department of his laboratory, but later in the cipher department. There he met another of Fabyan's cryptologists, the woman who was to become his wife, Elizebeth Friedman
. Both were employed to assist Elizabeth Wells Gallup. However, they eventually discredited the ciphers that Gallup claimed to have discovered. They won the Folger Shakespeare Library
Literary Prize of $1000 in 1955 for a definitive study that is considered to have disproven the claims of all researchers that the works of Shakespeare contain hidden ciphers that disclose Bacon's — or any other candidate's — secret authorship. The study was condensed and published in 1957 as The Shakespeare Ciphers Examined.
was done at Fabyan's laboratories. In particular they uncovered a plot against the British by Indian nationalists supported by the Germans. In fact, the National Security Agency
has recognized Riverbank Laboratories as the birthplace of cryptology and finally honored Fabyan in 1992 for his service to the United States' government/military in 1917-18.
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
wrote Shakespeare's plays, were later disproven by the cryptographers who trained there.
Early life
Born in Boston to George and Isabella Fabyan, the second child and eldest son of five children, he left home at age 17. Eventually ending up in Chicago, he ran the Chicago office of his tycoon-father's textile business Bliss, Fabyan & Co. from 1895 on. Inheritance from Bliss, Fabyan & Co. provided the financial foundation from which he and his wife, Nelle, established their legacy.Illinois Governor Richard Yates appointed George Fabyan to his military guard in 1901, giving him the honorary title of Colonel, by which he was generally later known.
In May of 1909 Fabyan was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
by the Japanese government for his service to same. Fabyan had spent some time in Japan before 1905, developing relations with Japanese government and business representatives. He also was appointed as a liaison to General Kuroki Tamemoto
Kuroki Tamemoto
Count was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army. He was the head of the Japanese First Army during the Russo-Japanese War; and his forces enjoyed a series of successes during the Manchurian fighting at the Battle of Yalu River, the Battle of Liaoyang, the Battle of Shaho and the Battle of...
during the Russo-Japanese peace negotiations (Treaty of Portsmouth
Treaty of Portsmouth
The Treaty of Portsmouth formally ended the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War. It was signed on September 5, 1905 after negotiations at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine in the USA.-Negotiations:...
) held in Maine in 1905. Between 1907 and 1910, he served as a host for General Kuroki, Baron Komura, and Prince Fushimi during their visits to Chicago.
Properties
He and his wife developed a 300+ acre country estate in Geneva, IllinoisGeneva, Illinois
Geneva is the county seat of Kane County, Illinois. It is located on the western fringe of the Chicago suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 26,652. Geneva is part of a tri-city area, along with St. Charles and Batavia...
, 40 miles west of Chicago, beginning with the purchase of 10 acres on the west bank of the Fox River. "Riverbank", as they named their estate, featured among other things, a Japanese Garden
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
, private zoo, Roman-style swimming pool, gardens, grottoes, greenhouses, a farm and the research laboratory. They lived on their estate from 1908 to 1939 in a farmhouse remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
, which they called the Fabyan Villa
Fabyan Villa
Fabyan Villa was the home of George and Nelle Fabyan from c. 1908 to 1939. The house is notable because of its remodelling in 1907 by Frank Lloyd Wright. It was the centerpiece of the Fabyans country estate, which they named Riverbank...
. This site also contained George's and Nelle's expansive private library and museum.
In 1914 Fabyan purchased and had moved a Dutch-style windmill built c. 1870 from its original farm site in York Center, IL to his estate. Known as the Fabyan Windmill
Fabyan Windmill
The Fabyan Windmill is an authentic, working Dutch windmill dating from the 1850s located in Geneva, Illinois. The , five-story wooden smock mill sits upon the onetime estate of Colonel George Fabyan, but is now part of the Kane County Forest Preserve District.In 1979, the windmill was listed on...
, this 5-story grist mill was restored to working order in 2004.
Baconian theory
Fabyan supported the Baconian theoryBaconian theory
The Baconian theory of Shakespearean authorship holds that Sir Francis Bacon, lawyer, philosopher, essayist and scientist, wrote the plays conventionally attributed to William Shakespeare, and that the historical Shakespeare was merely a front to shield the identity of Bacon, who could not take...
, which was popular at the time, that Shakespeare's plays were written by Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
. He established a cryptologic research group to study alleged ciphers in Shakespeare's work. Known as Riverbank Laboratories
Riverbank Laboratories
Riverbank Laboratories, or Riverbank Labs, is a company on Route 31 in Geneva, Illinois that started in 1918. This company has played an instrumental piece in the United States history of World War I for decrypting the German and Mexican code. The current address for the company is 1512 Batavia Ave...
, it was the first privately owned research facility in the United States.
In 1916 William Nicholas Selig, a film producer, sued Fabyan on the grounds that profits from forthcoming films of Shakespeare's works, along with a film on the life of Shakespeare, would be damaged by Fabyan's claims that Bacon was the author. He had already obtained an injunction stopping the publication of a book by Fabyan on the subject. Selig was intending to capitalise on the celebrations organised for the upcoming 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, which occurred in April 1616. A Cook Country
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, Richard Tuthill, found against Shakespeare's authorship. He determined that the bi-literal ciphers identified by Fabyan's analyst Elizabeth Wells Gallup
Elizabeth Wells Gallup
Elizabeth Wells Gallup was an American educator and exponent of the Baconian theory of Shakespearian authorship....
were authentic and that Francis Bacon was therefore the author of the works. Damages of $5,000 were awarded to Fabyan for the interference with the publication of the book. In the ensuing uproar, Tuthill rescinded his decision, and another judge, Judge Frederick A. Smith, dismissed the ruling. It was later suggested by the press that the case was concocted by both parties for publicity, since Selig and Fabyan were known to be old friends.
American cryptologist
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
William F. Friedman
William F. Friedman
William Frederick Friedman was a US Army cryptographer who ran the research division of the Army's Signals Intelligence Service in the 1930s, and parts of its follow-on services into the 1950s...
worked for Fabyan, initially in the genetics department of his laboratory, but later in the cipher department. There he met another of Fabyan's cryptologists, the woman who was to become his wife, Elizebeth Friedman
Elizebeth Friedman
Elizebeth Smith Friedman was a cryptanalyst and author, and a pioneer in U.S. cryptography. The special spelling of her name is attributed to her mother, who disliked the prospect of Elizebeth ever being called "Eliza." She has been dubbed "America's first female cryptanalyst".Although she is...
. Both were employed to assist Elizabeth Wells Gallup. However, they eventually discredited the ciphers that Gallup claimed to have discovered. They won the Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Shakespeare Library
The Folger Shakespeare Library is an independent research library on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It has the world's largest collection of the printed works of William Shakespeare, and is a primary repository for rare materials from the early modern period...
Literary Prize of $1000 in 1955 for a definitive study that is considered to have disproven the claims of all researchers that the works of Shakespeare contain hidden ciphers that disclose Bacon's — or any other candidate's — secret authorship. The study was condensed and published in 1957 as The Shakespeare Ciphers Examined.
World War I
The Friedmans played a significant role in World War I. Nearly all American military World War I cryptographyWorld War I cryptography
Codes and ciphers were used extensively in World War I. The decoding by British Naval intelligence of the Zimmermann telegram helped bring the United States into the war....
was done at Fabyan's laboratories. In particular they uncovered a plot against the British by Indian nationalists supported by the Germans. In fact, the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
has recognized Riverbank Laboratories as the birthplace of cryptology and finally honored Fabyan in 1992 for his service to the United States' government/military in 1917-18.