Roy D. Chapin
Encyclopedia
Roy Dikeman Chapin was an American industrialist and automaker
. He also served as the United States Secretary of Commerce
from August 8, 1932, to March 3, 1933, in the last months of the administration of President Herbert Hoover
.
Chapin was born in 1880 in Lansing, Michigan
, and attended the University of Michigan
. He married Inez Tiedeman in 1914. The couple had six children. One son, Roy D. Chapin Jr.
, would also pursue a career with Hudson Motor Company, eventually leading American Motors Corporation.
in 1908. The company was named for Detroit merchant J.L. Hudson, who provided the majority of capital for the operation's start-up.
Chapin was also behind the 1918 formation of the Essex Motors Company
, a subsidiary of Hudson. Essex is notable for developing the first affordable mass-produced enclosed automobile in 1922. Because of the success of the inexpensive enclosed Essex Coach line, the American automobile industry shifted away from open touring car
s in order to meet consumer demand for all-weather passenger vehicles.
In addition to his corporate interests, Chapin spearheaded the drive to build the Lincoln Highway
, along with Henry B. Joy of Packard
Motors. While Chapin viewed a system of professionally designed and built roadways as the greatest way to grow the automobile industry, he also saw the modern roadways movement as a way to secure long range strength for the United States as a nation.
After building Hudson into one of the most profitable independent American automobile manufacturers, Chapin left Hudson for the Hoover administration upon his appointment in 1932.
During his tenure as Secretary of Commerce, Chapin was unsuccessful in persuading Henry Ford
to provide financial help to avoid the collapse of the Union Guardian Trust Company of Detroit. Ford's refusal to aid the bank in averting a financial failure led to the Michigan Bank Holiday, an event that preceded the Roosevelt administration's national bank holiday
of 1933.
. He died in Detroit, Michigan
, in 1936 and was succeeded at Hudson by A.E. Barit. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
In 1954, Hudson was acquired by Nash Kelvinator in a friendly merger. The resulting company, American Motors Corporation, survived until it was acquired by Chrysler in the mid-1980s. Chapin's son, Roy D. Chapin Jr.
, served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Motors Corporation and led AMC to the acquisition of Kaiser Jeep
Corporation in 1970.
Chapin was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
in 1972.
Automaker
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
. He also served as the United States Secretary of Commerce
United States Secretary of Commerce
The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry; the Department states its mission to be "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce"...
from August 8, 1932, to March 3, 1933, in the last months of the administration of President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
.
Chapin was born in 1880 in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, and attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He married Inez Tiedeman in 1914. The couple had six children. One son, Roy D. Chapin Jr.
Roy D. Chapin Jr.
Roy Dikeman Chapin, Jr. was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Motors Corporation . Chapin's father, Roy D...
, would also pursue a career with Hudson Motor Company, eventually leading American Motors Corporation.
Commercial interests
Chapin headed the consortium of businessmen and engineers that founded the Hudson Motor Car CompanyHudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
in 1908. The company was named for Detroit merchant J.L. Hudson, who provided the majority of capital for the operation's start-up.
Chapin was also behind the 1918 formation of the Essex Motors Company
Essex (automobile)
The Essex was a brand of automobile produced by the Essex Motor Company from 1918–1922 and Hudson Motor Company of Detroit, Michigan between 1922 and 1932.-Corporate strategy:...
, a subsidiary of Hudson. Essex is notable for developing the first affordable mass-produced enclosed automobile in 1922. Because of the success of the inexpensive enclosed Essex Coach line, the American automobile industry shifted away from open touring car
Touring car
A touring car, or tourer, is an open car seating five or more. Touring cars may have two or four doors. Often, the belt line is lowered in the front doors to give the car a more sportive character. They were often fitted with a folding roof and side curtains. Engines on early models were either in...
s in order to meet consumer demand for all-weather passenger vehicles.
In addition to his corporate interests, Chapin spearheaded the drive to build the Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
, along with Henry B. Joy of Packard
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
Motors. While Chapin viewed a system of professionally designed and built roadways as the greatest way to grow the automobile industry, he also saw the modern roadways movement as a way to secure long range strength for the United States as a nation.
Political activities
During his tenure as Secretary of Commerce, Chapin was unsuccessful in persuading Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
to provide financial help to avoid the collapse of the Union Guardian Trust Company of Detroit. Ford's refusal to aid the bank in averting a financial failure led to the Michigan Bank Holiday, an event that preceded the Roosevelt administration's national bank holiday
Bank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
of 1933.
Death and succession
Chapin returned to Hudson in March, 1933. His final three years were spent trying to save the company from the effects of the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He died in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, in 1936 and was succeeded at Hudson by A.E. Barit. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
In 1954, Hudson was acquired by Nash Kelvinator in a friendly merger. The resulting company, American Motors Corporation, survived until it was acquired by Chrysler in the mid-1980s. Chapin's son, Roy D. Chapin Jr.
Roy D. Chapin Jr.
Roy Dikeman Chapin, Jr. was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Motors Corporation . Chapin's father, Roy D...
, served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Motors Corporation and led AMC to the acquisition of Kaiser Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
Corporation in 1970.
Chapin was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
Automotive Hall of Fame
The Automotive Hall of Fame is an American museum and hall of fame covering automotive innovations.-Location:Located in the metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, the museum shares a parking lot with The Henry Ford.-External links:*...
in 1972.
Further reading
The Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan has a collection of Chapin's papers:- Roy D. Chapin, by J.C. Long (biography)