William Hathaway Forbes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Hathaway Forbes
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| Born | October 31, 1840 Milton, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | October 11, 1897 |
| Education | Harvard University |
| Spouse(s) | Edith Emerson |
| Children | 5 sons (including W. Cameron Forbes and Edward W. Forbes), 2 daughters |
| Parent(s) | John Murray Forbes Sarah Hathaway |
| Relatives | Ralph Waldo Emerson (father-in-law) John Malcolm Forbes (brother) Ruth Forbes Young (granddaughter) |
William Hathaway Forbes (born in 1840, died in 1897) was an important American businessman. He is best known for being an early investor and president of the Bell Telephone Company, which later became part of AT&T. His work helped bring telephones to many people across the United States.
Early Life and War Service
William Hathaway Forbes was born on October 31, 1840, in Milton, Massachusetts. His father, John Murray Forbes, was a very successful businessman who built railroads.
In 1857, William started studying at Harvard University. However, he left in 1860. When the American Civil War began in 1861, William joined the Union Army. He served as a soldier from 1861 to 1865. During the war, he was captured by the Confederate States Army in July 1864. He was held as a prisoner in Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina until December 1864. After the war, he went back to Harvard and earned his degree in 1871.
Building a Business Empire
After college, Forbes began his career at his father's company, J.M. Forbes & Co. This company was an investment firm, which means it helped people put their money into businesses to make more money.
In the late 1870s, two men named Gardiner Greene Hubbard and Thomas Sanders asked Forbes for help. They wanted him to invest in their new company, the Bell Telephone Company. Forbes not only invested his own money, but he also convinced many of his rich friends to invest too. Because of his important role, Forbes became the President of the Bell Telephone Company in 1879. He led the company until 1887, helping it grow into a major part of American communication.
Family Life
William Forbes married Edith Emerson. She was the daughter of the famous American poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson.
William and Edith had seven children together. They had five sons: Ralph Emerson Forbes, W. Cameron Forbes, John Murray Forbes, Edward W. Forbes, Waldo Emerson Forbes, and Alexander Forbes. They also had two daughters: Edith Forbes and Ellen Randolph Forbes.
Later Years
William Hathaway Forbes passed away on October 11, 1897. He died on Naushon Island, which is located in Massachusetts.
