Frederic Adrian Delano

Frederic Adrian Delano (1863-1953) was an American railroad president born in Hong Kong, China of the Delano family. He is the uncle of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Frederic Adrian Delano was also a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago which impacted the development of Chicago in the 19th and 20th centuries.

History

After graduating from Harvard University in 1885 he was employed by the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad in various capacities, rising from the position of civil engineer to be general manager at Chicago. For a time he was consulting engineer to the United States War Department in respect to the railroads of the Philippine Islands. In 1905 he became president of the Wheeling and Lake Erie, of the WabashPittsburgh Terminal, and of the Wabash railroads. He was appointed one of the receivers for the Wabash in 1911, and in 1913, he was elected president of the Monon Railroad. He was vice president of the American Unitarian Association in 1907. His addresses were published under the titles "Questions of the Hour" (1911) and "Are Our Railroads Fairly Treated?" (1913). He was also the chairman of the influential National Capital Park and Planning Commission and helped approve and oversee the building of the Pentagon.

Uncle of F.D.R.

Frederic Adrian Delano was also the uncle of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Frederic's philanthropic work through the Commercial Club of Chicago would have a strong impact on President Roosevelt's policies.

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