Leon Leonwood Bean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leon Leonwood Bean
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| Born | October 13, 1872 Greenwood, Maine, US
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| Died | February 5, 1967 (aged 94) |
| Resting place | Webster Cemetery, Freeport, Maine |
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| Known for | Founding L.L.Bean |
| Relatives | Linda Bean (granddaughter) |
Leon Leonwood Bean (born October 13, 1872 – died February 5, 1967) was an American inventor and writer. He loved being outdoors and is famous for starting the company L.L.Bean.
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Early Life and Interests
Leon Leonwood Bean was born in Greenwood, Maine, on October 13, 1872. He was one of six sons.
Even as a young boy, Bean showed an interest in business. When he was nine, he chose to sell steel traps to his father instead of going to the local fair. This earned him his first money.
When Bean was 12, both of his parents passed away. He then moved to South Paris, Maine, to live with family. He loved the outdoors from a young age. At 13, he hunted his first deer. A year later, he sold another deer he had shot to two hunters who hadn't found anything.
For two years, until he was 18, Bean worked on his uncle's farm in West Minot, Maine. During the winters, he went to school at Hebron Academy. Later, at 19, he took a business course at Kents Hill School. He paid for his studies by selling soap.
In 1892, Bean worked at a creamery in Bangor. After that, he got a job in a clothing store in Auburn. In 1898, he married Bertha Porter. They moved to her hometown of Freeport. There, he worked in his brother Otho's dry goods store. Leon and Bertha had three children: Carlton, Warren, and Barbara. Bertha passed away in 1939. In 1941, Claire became his second wife.
Starting L.L.Bean
Leon Leonwood Bean loved to hunt and fish. He often found that his regular boots would get completely soaked. He wanted to solve this problem for himself and other outdoor lovers.
The First Waterproof Boot
Bean came up with an idea for a waterproof boot. It combined a lightweight leather top with a rubber bottom. He took his idea to a shoemaker. The first boots were then created.
Bean believed his new boot was good quality. He found a list of people who had hunting licenses in Maine but lived outside the state. He sent them a letter describing his new boots. He also made a big promise: if anyone was unhappy with the boots, he would give them all their money back.
Facing Challenges and Improving
This promise led to a challenge. The rubber on the first 100 pairs of boots developed cracks. Because of his promise, Bean had to refund money for 90% of those boots! But he didn't mind. He saw that people really wanted these boots.
In 1911, Bean borrowed $400. He went to Boston and paid the United States Rubber Company to make better quality rubber bottoms for his boots. With these improved boots, Bean set up a small boot shop in his brother's basement in Freeport, Maine.
News of his clever idea and his "100% money back" promise spread. By 1917, he had sold enough boots to buy his own building on the main street of Freeport.
Expanding the Business
In 1918, Bean understood how important it was to protect his invention. He got a patent for his special boot. After that, he started inventing and improving more outdoor gear. He also expanded his store. This is how L.L.Bean grew into the well-known company it is today.
During World War II, Bean helped the U.S. Army and Navy. His company even made a special version of his Maine Hunting Shoe for soldiers to use.
The company's total sales grew a lot. In 1946, sales were $1 million. By 1967, they had grown to $3 million.
As an Author
Leon Leonwood Bean also wrote books. In 1942, he published Hunting, Fishing and Camping. Later, in 1960, he wrote his autobiography, called My Story: the Autobiography of a Down-East Merchant.
Death and Legacy
Leon Leonwood Bean passed away in Pompano Beach, Florida, on February 5, 1967. He was 94 years old. He was buried in Webster Cemetery in Freeport, Maine.
When he died, L.L.Bean's yearly sales were about $5 million. The company's famous policy of giving 100% money back on returned products continued until February 9, 2018.
The Maine Medical Center has honored him by naming one of its wings after him. His picture also hangs in a hallway at the hospital.
