Harold Fowler McCormick
Encyclopedia
Harold Fowler McCormick, Sr. (May 2, 1872 – October 16, 1941) was chairman of the board of International Harvester Company.
, inventor and manufacturer of the mechanical reaper
; and Nancy Fowler McCormick.
He graduated from Princeton University
in 1895. On November 26, 1895 he married Edith Rockefeller
, daughter of Standard Oil
tycoon John D. Rockefeller
, in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1909, along with John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
and Frederick Taylor Gates
, he became the third inaugural trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation
. He became chairman of the board
of International Harvester Company in 1935, replacing his older brother Cyrus Hall McCormick II
. He was also a trustee
of the Rockefeller-created University of Chicago
.
After divorcing Edith, McCormick married opera singer Ganna Walska
. During the transition period between these two women, McCormick sought to fortify himself by undergoing an operation by Serge Voronoff
, a surgeon who specialized in transplanting animal glands into aging men with impotency. McCormick divorced Ganna in 1931.
He died on October 16, 1941.
claimed that McCormick's lavish promotion of his second wife's opera career—despite her renown as a terrible singer—was a direct influence on the screenplay for Citizen Kane
, wherein the titular character does much the same for his second wife. (Samuel Insull
, Thomas Edison's private secretary and later president of a utilities holding empire that included Commonwealth Edison
, built what is now the Lyric Opera in Chicago for his mistress and was another influence, along with actresses Hope Hampton
and Marion Davies
.)
Biography
He was born on May 2, 1872, the sixth child of Cyrus McCormickCyrus McCormick
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
, inventor and manufacturer of the mechanical reaper
Reaper
A reaper is a person or machine that reaps crops at harvest, when they are ripe.-Hand reaping:Hand reaping is done by various means, including plucking the ears of grains directly by hand, cutting the grain stalks with a sickle, cutting them with a scythe, or with a later type of scythe called a...
; and Nancy Fowler McCormick.
He graduated from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1895. On November 26, 1895 he married Edith Rockefeller
Edith Rockefeller McCormick
Edith Rockefeller McCormick was an American socialite and opera patron.-Biography:McCormick was the fourth daughter of Standard Oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller and his wife Laura Spelman Rockefeller . Her famous younger brother was John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, daughter of Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
tycoon John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
, in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1909, along with John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
John Davison Rockefeller, Jr. was a major philanthropist and a pivotal member of the prominent Rockefeller family. He was the sole son among the five children of businessman and Standard Oil industrialist John D. Rockefeller and the father of the five famous Rockefeller brothers...
and Frederick Taylor Gates
Frederick Taylor Gates
Frederick Taylor Gates was an American Baptist clergyman, educator, and the principal business and philanthropic advisor to the major oil industrialist and philanthropist John D...
, he became the third inaugural trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
. He became chairman of the board
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
of International Harvester Company in 1935, replacing his older brother Cyrus Hall McCormick II
Cyrus Hall McCormick II
Cyrus Hall McCormick II was an American businessman.He was the oldest son of the industrialist Cyrus Hall McCormick . He was born in Chicago on May 16, 1859. He married Harriet Bradley Hammond on March 5, 1889. They had three children: Cyrus Hall McCormick III was born September 22, 1890. Elzabeth...
. He was also a 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...
of the Rockefeller-created University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
After divorcing Edith, McCormick married opera singer Ganna Walska
Ganna Walska
Ganna Walska born Hanna Puacz was a Polish opera singer and garden enthusiast who created the Lotusland botanical gardens...
. During the transition period between these two women, McCormick sought to fortify himself by undergoing an operation by Serge Voronoff
Serge Voronoff
Serge Abrahamovitch Voronoff was a French surgeon of Russian extraction who gained fame for his technique of grafting monkey testicle tissue on to the testicles of men for purportedly therapeutic purposes while working in France in the 1920s and 1930s. The technique brought him a great deal of...
, a surgeon who specialized in transplanting animal glands into aging men with impotency. McCormick divorced Ganna in 1931.
He died on October 16, 1941.
Children with Edith Rockefeller
- John Rockefeller McCormick (1896–1901)
- Editha McCormick (1897–1898)
- Harold Fowler McCormick, Jr. (1898–1973)
- Muriel McCormick Hubbard (1903–1959)
- Mathilde McCormick Oser (1906–1947)
Legacy
Orson WellesOrson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
claimed that McCormick's lavish promotion of his second wife's opera career—despite her renown as a terrible singer—was a direct influence on the screenplay for Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. Many critics consider it the greatest American film of all time, especially for its innovative cinematography, music and narrative structure. Citizen Kane was Welles' first feature film...
, wherein the titular character does much the same for his second wife. (Samuel Insull
Samuel Insull
Samuel Insull was an Anglo-American innovator and investor based in Chicago who greatly contributed to creating an integrated electrical infrastructure in the United States. Insull was notable for purchasing utilities and railroads using holding companies, as well as the abuse of them...
, Thomas Edison's private secretary and later president of a utilities holding empire that included Commonwealth Edison
Commonwealth Edison
Commonwealth Edison is the largest electric utility in Illinois, serving the Chicago and Northern Illinois area...
, built what is now the Lyric Opera in Chicago for his mistress and was another influence, along with actresses Hope Hampton
Hope Hampton
Hope Hampton was an American silent motion picture actress, who was noted for her seemingly effortless incarnation of siren and flapper types in silent-picture roles during the 1920s....
and Marion Davies
Marion Davies
Marion Davies was an American film actress. Davies is best remembered for her relationship with newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, as her high-profile social life often obscured her professional career....
.)
Further reading
- Chernow, Ron. Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. New York: Warner Books, 1998.
- (Harvester World) Issue v.22, no.1, January 1942.
See also
- John D. RockefellerJohn D. RockefellerJohn Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
- Rockefeller familyRockefeller familyThe Rockefeller family , the Cleveland family of John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller , is an American industrial, banking, and political family of German origin that made one of the world's largest private fortunes in the oil business during the late 19th and early 20th...
- Rockefeller FoundationRockefeller FoundationThe Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
- International Harvester Company