William Henry Ellis (businessman) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Henry Ellis
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| Born | June 15, 1864 Victoria, Texas, U.S.
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| Died | September 24, 1923 (aged 59) Mexico City, Mexico
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | businessman |
William Henry Ellis (also known as Guillermo Enrique Eliseo) was an American businessman. He was born on June 15, 1864, and passed away on September 24, 1923.
Contents
William Ellis's Early Life
William Henry Ellis was born in Victoria, Texas, on June 15, 1864. His parents, Charles and Margaret Nelson Ellis, had been slaves. As he grew up, Ellis learned to speak Spanish very well. He worked in different jobs, like on a ranch and helping with leather. He also checked customs, traded cattle, and grew cotton.
His Career and Activism
Starting in Mexico
In 1888, Ellis began farming cattle in Mexico. He was also involved in politics, supporting the Republican Party in the late 1800s. He became friends with important figures like Henry McNeal Turner. While Turner supported the idea of African Americans moving back to Africa, Ellis thought they should move to Latin America, especially Mexico.
Helping Black Americans Move to Mexico
When he lived in San Antonio, Ellis became known for speaking up for Black people in Texas politics. He then worked on a plan to create a new home for Black people from the southern United States in Mexico. The president of Mexico, Porfirio Díaz, agreed to the plan in 1888 and gave Ellis some land.
By 1894, an agreement was signed to get money for the project. Ellis promised to bring as many as 20,000 Black workers to the Tlahualilo Municipality. In 1895, 816 people moved from Alabama to Mexico. Some reports say this was the only group, but others say at least 2,000 people moved. Newspapers in the southern U.S. criticized the colony, saying living conditions were very bad. After an investigation, it was found that conditions were difficult, but not as bad as reported. The colony did not succeed, and the U.S. government helped all the families return home.
Business Ventures
After this, Ellis got involved in the brokerage business. He led a water company that supplied water to The Bronx in New York. This company was worth a lot of money. He later sold it to New York City.
The "Abyssinia Affair"
In 1904, Ellis tried to become the king of the Ethiopian Empire. This event became known as the "Abyssinia affair." He worked with the United States Department of State to create a treaty between Menelik II, the emperor of Ethiopia, and the United States. Ellis took the treaty to Menelik and was made a duke in the kingdom. This treaty helped create an official relationship between the two countries.
Ellis returned to the U.S. in 1904 and lived in Mount Vernon, New York. He also bought a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, which is a place where stocks are traded. He was also involved with important organizations like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Personal Life
William Henry Ellis married Ida Lefferts Sherwood in 1903. They had four children together.
Death and Legacy
William Henry Ellis passed away in Mexico City on September 24, 1923.
In 2016, a book about his life was written by Karl Jacoby, called The Strange Career of William Ellis: The Texas Slave Who Became a Mexican Millionaire. In 2019, filmmaker Phillip Rodriguez announced he would make a documentary based on this book.
See also
In Spanish: William Henry Ellis para niños
