Harry F. Guggenheim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Frank Guggenheim
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| United States Ambassador to Cuba | |
| In office 1929–1933 |
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| President | Herbert Hoover |
| Preceded by | Noble Brandon Judah |
| Succeeded by | Sumner Welles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 23, 1890 West End, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | January 22, 1971 (aged 80) Sands Point, Long Island, New York, U.S. |
| Spouses |
Helen Rosenberg
(m. 1910; div. 1923)Caroline Morton Potter
(m. 1923; div. 1939) |
| Children | 3, including Diane Hamilton |
| Parents | Daniel Guggenheim Florence Shloss Guggenheim |
| Relatives | Guggenheim family |
| Education | Columbia Grammar School Sheffield Scientific School |
| Alma mater | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Businessman, newspaper publishing, statesman, racehorse owner/breeder, philanthropist, aviator |
Harry Frank Guggenheim (born August 23, 1890 – died January 22, 1971) was an important American businessman, diplomat, and newspaper publisher. He was also known for his love of aviation, his charity work, and his passion for horse racing. He came from the famous Guggenheim family, known for their wealth and contributions to many fields.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Harry Frank Guggenheim was born in West End, New Jersey, on August 23, 1890. His parents were Florence Shloss Guggenheim and Daniel Guggenheim. His father took charge of the family's large businesses, which included mining and smelting, after Harry's grandfather passed away. His mother helped start the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, a charity organization.
Harry went to Columbia Grammar School in Manhattan, graduating in 1907. He then studied at Yale University's Sheffield Scientific School. Later, he worked for three years at the American Smelting and Refining Company in Mexico, a company owned by his family. In 1910, he continued his education at Pembroke College, Cambridge University, in England, where he earned two degrees in 1913.
Aviation and Public Service
Harry Guggenheim was a big supporter of aviation, which means flying and aircraft. He believed in the future of airplanes and rockets.
Supporting Aviation Progress
In 1917, Harry bought his own Curtiss flying boat, a type of seaplane. He joined the United States Navy Reserve in September 1917 and served in France, England, and Italy during World War I. He was part of the First Yale Unit, a group of Yale students who became naval aviators.
In 1924, his parents created the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation. Harry became a director and later the president of this foundation. He used the foundation's money to help Robert H. Goddard with his research on liquid-fuel rockets and space travel. This was a very new and exciting field at the time!
Harry also helped create the first Guggenheim School of Aeronautics at New York University in 1925. A year later, he became president of the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics. This fund provided $3 million to help aviation grow. It even helped start the first regular commercial airline in the United States and the first weather reporting system just for passenger planes.
For all his work in aviation, Harry Guggenheim was honored by being inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1971.
Military Service
During World War I, Harry Guggenheim served as a Lieutenant in the Navy. He was stationed in France, England, and Italy. By the end of the war, he had become a Lieutenant Commander.
In World War II, he was called back to duty. He served in the South Pacific as a tail gunner on a torpedo bomber. He rose to the rank of Captain by the end of the war, showing his dedication to his country.
Diplomatic Role
From 1929 to 1933, Harry Guggenheim served as the United States Ambassador to Cuba. This meant he was the official representative of the U.S. in Cuba. During his time there, he worked to encourage the Cuban leader, General Gerardo Machado, to treat his political opponents fairly.
In 1929, President Herbert Hoover asked Guggenheim to join the National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics. He stayed on this committee until 1938, continuing his work to advance aviation. In 1948, through the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, he helped set up important research centers for jet propulsion at the California Institute of Technology and Princeton University.
Business and Hobbies
Besides his work in government and aviation, Harry Guggenheim was also involved in publishing and horse racing.
Newspaper Publishing: Newsday
In 1940, Harry Guggenheim and his third wife, Alicia Patterson, started a newspaper called Newsday. Harry was the president of the company. Alicia was the editor and publisher until she passed away in 1963. After her death, Harry took over her roles until 1967.
Newsday became very popular, with many people reading it every day. It even won the Pulitzer Prize in 1954, which is a very important award for journalism.
In 1967, Harry handed over the publisher position to Bill Moyers but remained president and editor-in-chief. Later, Harry sold his part of Newsday to the Times Mirror Company.
Thoroughbred Horse Racing
Harry Guggenheim loved horse racing. He helped start the New York Racing Association. Starting in 1929, he became a major owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses. His stable, called Cain Hoy Stable, had many successful horses.
One of his most famous horses was Dark Star, who won the 1953 Kentucky Derby. Dark Star was the only horse ever to beat the legendary horse Native Dancer. Another famous horse he owned was Bald Eagle, who won an Eclipse Award. He also owned and bred Ack Ack, who is now in the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and was named American Horse of the Year in 1971.
Personal Life
Harry Guggenheim was married three times and had three daughters.
His first marriage was to Helen Rosenberg in 1910. They had two daughters, Joan and Nancy, before divorcing in 1923. Joan Guggenheim served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during World War II. Nancy Guggenheim became an author and ballet teacher.
His second marriage was to Caroline Morton Potter in 1923. Caroline's father, Paul Morton, had been the Secretary of the Navy. Harry and Caroline had one daughter, Diane Guggenheim, before they divorced.
In 1939, Harry married for the third time to Alicia Patterson. Alicia was the daughter of Joseph Medill Patterson, who founded the New York Daily News. Harry and Alicia worked together to create Newsday.
Harry Frank Guggenheim passed away from cancer on January 22, 1971, at his home in Sands Point, New York. He was buried in Salem Fields Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Images for kids
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Harry Frank Guggenheim next to a train.
