Origins & Early Life

Edward Henry Harriman (February 20, 1848 – September 9, 1909) was an American financier and railroad executive as well as one of the founders of the Harriman business dynasty. Harriman was born on February 20, 1848, in Hempstead, New York, the son of Orlando Harriman Sr., an Episcopal clergyman, and Cornelia Neilson. He had a brother, Orlando Harriman Jr. His great-grandfather, William Harriman, had emigrated from England in 1795 and became a successful businessman and trader.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

As a young boy, Harriman spent a summer working at the Greenwood Iron Furnace in the area owned by the Robert Parker Parrott family that would become Harriman State Park. He quit school at age 14 to take a job as an errand boy on Wall Street in New York City. His uncle Oliver Harriman had earlier established a career there. By age 22, he was a member of the New York Stock Exchange. Harriman's father-in-law was president of the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad Company, which aroused Harriman's interest in upstate New York transportation.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1881, at age 33, Harriman acquired the small, broken-down Lake Ontario Southern Railroad. He renamed it the Sodus Bay & Southern, reorganized...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Bernard Bosanquet (philosopher) — Contemporary (Born in 1848) (1848): Influential English philosopher and political theorist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Caroline Herschel — Contemporary (Died in 1848) (1848): Pioneering astronomer, famed for comet discoveries and professional scientific career.
• François-René de Chateaubriand — Contemporary (Died in 1848) (1848): Influential French writer, diplomat, and historian of the 19th century.
• Albert R. Broccoli — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Pioneering American film producer, best known for developing the James Bond franchise.
• Barry Goldwater — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Conservative Senator and Presidential Nominee who championed modern American conservatism.
• Burl Ives — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Iconic American folk singer, actor, and voice artist known for Christmas music.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1763): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Ansel Adams — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1902): Iconic photographer and environmentalist celebrated for the American West's landscapes.
• Adam Sandler — Shared historical date (09-09 · Born) (1966): Acclaimed comedian and actor known for his prolific career in Hollywood comedy.
• Bill Monroe — Shared historical date (09-09 · Died) (1996): Pioneering mandolinist and songwriter, credited as the 'Father of Bluegrass'.
• 1848 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1848
• February 20 (02-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 20
• 1909 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1909
• September 9 (09-09) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 9