George Winthrop Fairchild

Infobox Person
name = George Winthrop Fairchild


image_size =
caption =
birth_date = birth date|1854|5|6|mf=y
birth_place = Oneonta New York, United States
death_date = death date and age|1924|12|31|1854|5|6|mf=y
death_place = New York City, U.S.
occupation = Computer businessman
spouse = Josephine Mills Sherman
parents = Jesse Fairchild Belle Fairchild
children = Sherman Mills Fairchild

George Winthrop Fairchild (May 6,1854 – December 31,1924), was a six-term Republican U.S. Representative from New York. Prior to joining congress, he was a businessman and investor, best known as the chairman from 1915-1924 of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company which later became IBM

Biography

He was born in Oneonta New York, United States to Jesse and Belle Fairchild.His father was a poor farmer. George and his siblings had to help their father on the farm and had little opportunity to study. He attended the local school until he was 14 years old, when he apprenticed to a printer.

Primarily self-educated, he rose to prominence through his own effort and enterprise.In 1890, He became the sole proprietor of the Oneonta "Herald," a weekly newspaper.He was a pioneer in the time recording industry. In 1896, in association with his friend Harlow N. Bundy he joined the Bundy Manufacturing Company, a time clock manufacturer, as both an investor and director. In 1900 Fairchild formed the International Time Recording Company as the selling agency of the Bundy Manufacturing Company, Willard and Frick Manufacturing Company, and Standard Time Stamp Company, which also manufactured a card recorder.

In 1911, when the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company was formed through the efforts of Charles R. Flint, Fairchild became president of the new company.He later became chairman of the company and continued in this role when in February 1924, C-T-R was renamed as IBM. He was chairman of IBM until his death on December 31st of 1924.

Congressional career

Apart from manufacturing and journalism, Fairchild was a seasoned politician. He was elected as a Republican to the Sixtieth and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1907-March 3, 1919).

Fairchild was elected vice president of the International Peace Conference.He was appointed by President Taft on August 10, 1910, as special commissioner to the First Centenary of Mexico at Mexico City, with the rank of Minister.

Marriage and Family

He married Josephine Mills Sherman, daughter of William Sherman, of Davenport, Iowa on February 15, 1891. They had a son Sherman Mills Fairchild, who was born on April 7, 1896.

References

* [http://www.infoplease.com/biography/us/congress/fairchild-george-winthrop.html Biography at infoplease]
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/state/his/bio/pt58.html usgennet biography]
* [http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/chairmen/chairmen_2.html IBM biography]
*CongBio|F000005