Franklin W. Olin

Franklin Walter Olin (January 9, 1860 – May 21, 1951) was the founder of the Olin Corporation.

Franklin W. Olin
Franklin W. Olin
Born(1860-01-09)January 9, 1860
Woodford, Vermont, United States
DiedMay 21, 1951(1951-05-21) (aged 91)
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
EducationCornell University
OccupationProfessional baseball player, businessman, philanthropist
Known forFounder of Olin Corporation
Board member ofOlin Corporation
Spouse(s)Mary Mott Moulton
Children1) Franklin Walter Jr.
2) John Merrill (1892–1982)
3) Spencer Truman (1900–1995)
Frank Olin
Outfielder
Born: January 9, 1860
Woodford, Vermont
Died: May 20, 1951(1951-05-20) (aged 91)
St. Louis, Missouri
Batted: Left Threw: Unknown
MLB debut
July 4, 1884, for the Washington Nationals (AA)
Last MLB appearance
June 10, 1885, for the Detroit Wolverines
MLB statistics
At bats177
RBI0
Home runs1
Batting average.316
Teams

He was born in Woodford, Vermont, and his father built mills and waterwheels. He studied civil engineering at Cornell University, where he also played baseball; he played as an outfielder in the American Association for two seasons. After graduating with the class of 1886, he worked in several jobs before founding a blasting powder mill construction business; his first mill opened in East Alton, Illinois, in 1892.

He married Mary Mott Moulton of Toledo, Ohio, on May 28, 1889.[1] They had three sons, Franklin W. Jr. (predeceased), John, and Spencer, all three of whom also graduated from Cornell.

He formed the Western Cartridge Company in 1898 to manufacture ammunition; during World War I he diversified into brassmaking for use in cartridge shells. In 1931 Olin acquired the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. After World War II, Olin retired from management of the firm, leaving it to his sons John and Spencer.

He died in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1951. A portion of his fortune was willed to the Franklin W. Olin Foundation, which endowed numerous buildings and professorships in his name at college campuses across the United States. In 1997, the foundation established Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts.

References

  1. "Franklin Walter OLIN & Mary Mott MOULTON". Olinfamilysociety.org. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
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