Robert J. Thorne
Encyclopedia
Robert Julius Thorne was an American
businessman who was president of Montgomery Ward
from 1917 to 1920.
in the Civil War
who co-founded Montgomery Ward with his brother-in-law, A. Montgomery Ward.
He received a bachelor's degree
from Cornell University
in 1897. He was active in the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity.
Robert Thorne joined Montgomery Ward's Kansas City, Missouri
, branch immediately upon his graduation from Cornell. He rose to become branch manager, and then was transferred to Chicago where he was manager of the store's flagship store and a vice president of the company. In 1917, his older brother and Montgomery Ward president, William C. Thorne, died unexpectedly. Robert J. Thorne assumed the presidency of the company.
Thorne married the former Katherine B. Sterrett. The couple had five daughters: Roberta, Katherine, Laura, Narcissa and Ellen Catherine.
in 1902, and played a significant role in the 1905 Chicago Teamsters' strike
. He was accused in mid-1905 of bribing transport company owners to lock out
their union
workers in order to force them to strike.
, Thorne served as a civilian in the United States Army
. He joined the Army on January 1, 1918, as an unpaid volunteer. He was named an assistant to George W. Goethals
, Acting Quartermaster General of the Army. Thorne helped to radically reorganize the failing Army logistical and supply system. On March 8, 1918, Goethals named Thorne "Assistant to the Acting Quartermaster General," and issued an order to his troops that all orders from Thorne "will have the force and effect as if performed by the Acting Quartermaster General himself." Thorne left government service after the war ended.
During his tenure with the U.S. Army, Thorne trained Brigadier General
Robert E. Wood
in logistics. Wood later became vice-president and then chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Company
, one of Montgomery Ward's fiercest competitors.
For his work in successfully restructuring the Army's supply system and measurably improving America's warfighting capacity during World War I, Thorne was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
in 1919.
In 1918, Thorne built a 28-room mansion on a 14 acres (56,656 m²) estate on Sheridan Roade in Lake Forest, Illinois
. The estate, called White Oaks, became a major showcase home in the area. During the 1930s, Thorne became president of the board of trustees of Lake Forest Academy
.
In 1942, White Oaks was torn down and the Thornes moved to Coronado, California
. In 1950, they moved to La Jolla, California. Thorne died there on March 20, 1955, after a lengthy illness.
Katherine Thorne died in 1963.
A fund at the Delta Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon at Cornell was endowed by Thorne, and also carries his name.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who was president of Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
from 1917 to 1920.
Life
Robert Thorne was born in February 1875 in Chicago, Illinois, to George R. Thorne. The senior Thorne was a former majorMajor
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
who co-founded Montgomery Ward with his brother-in-law, A. Montgomery Ward.
He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1897. He was active in the Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
fraternity.
Robert Thorne joined Montgomery Ward's Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, branch immediately upon his graduation from Cornell. He rose to become branch manager, and then was transferred to Chicago where he was manager of the store's flagship store and a vice president of the company. In 1917, his older brother and Montgomery Ward president, William C. Thorne, died unexpectedly. Robert J. Thorne assumed the presidency of the company.
Thorne married the former Katherine B. Sterrett. The couple had five daughters: Roberta, Katherine, Laura, Narcissa and Ellen Catherine.
Employers' Association of Chicago
Thorne co-founded the Employers' Association of ChicagoEmployers' Association of Greater Chicago
The Employers' Association of Greater Chicago was a nonprofit association of employers based in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded as the Employers' Association of Chicago in 1903, although it was also known colloquially as the Chicago Employers' Association...
in 1902, and played a significant role in the 1905 Chicago Teamsters' strike
1905 Chicago Teamsters' strike
The 1905 Chicago Teamsters' strike was a sympathy strike and lockout by the United Brotherhood of Teamsters in the summer of 1905 in the city of Chicago, Illinois. The strike was initiated by a small clothing workers' union. But it soon spread as nearly every union in the city, including the...
. He was accused in mid-1905 of bribing transport company owners to lock out
Lockout (industry)
A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. This is different from a strike, in which employees refuse to work.- Causes :...
their union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
workers in order to force them to strike.
U.S. Army service
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Thorne served as a civilian in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He joined the Army on January 1, 1918, as an unpaid volunteer. He was named an assistant to George W. Goethals
George Washington Goethals
George Washington Goethals was a United States Army officer and civil engineer, best known for his supervision of construction and the opening of the Panama Canal...
, Acting Quartermaster General of the Army. Thorne helped to radically reorganize the failing Army logistical and supply system. On March 8, 1918, Goethals named Thorne "Assistant to the Acting Quartermaster General," and issued an order to his troops that all orders from Thorne "will have the force and effect as if performed by the Acting Quartermaster General himself." Thorne left government service after the war ended.
During his tenure with the U.S. Army, Thorne trained Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Robert E. Wood
Robert E. Wood
Robert Elkington Wood was a U.S. Army Brigadier General and businessman best known for his leadership of Sears, Roebuck and Company.- Early life :...
in logistics. Wood later became vice-president and then chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, one of Montgomery Ward's fiercest competitors.
For his work in successfully restructuring the Army's supply system and measurably improving America's warfighting capacity during World War I, Thorne was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
in 1919.
In 1918, Thorne built a 28-room mansion on a 14 acres (56,656 m²) estate on Sheridan Roade in Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
. The estate, called White Oaks, became a major showcase home in the area. During the 1930s, Thorne became president of the board of trustees of Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy is a college preparatory boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12 located on the North Shore in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States. As of the 2008-2009 school year, students at Lake Forest Academy come from 20 states and 28 countries. The current Head of School is Dr....
.
Retirement and death
Thorne retired from the presidency of Montgomery Ward in 1920 due to failing health. He and his wife traveled extensively for several years.In 1942, White Oaks was torn down and the Thornes moved to Coronado, California
Coronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
. In 1950, they moved to La Jolla, California. Thorne died there on March 20, 1955, after a lengthy illness.
Katherine Thorne died in 1963.
Honors
The Robert Julius Thorne Chair in Political Economy in the Department of Economics at Cornell University is endowed in Thorne's name.A fund at the Delta Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon at Cornell was endowed by Thorne, and also carries his name.