Origins & Early Life

Henry Clay Frick (December 19, 1849 – December 2, 1919) was an American industrialist, financier, and art patron. He founded the H. C. Frick & Company coke manufacturing company, and later became chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Frick's management of Carnegie Steel was characterized by vehement opposition to unions, a trait reflected most notably by his violent suppression of the Homestead Strike. In the later years of his career as an industrialist, he was instrumental in the founding of U.S. Steel, which became the world's largest steel manufacturer. In his life outside of the steel industry, Frick was a prominent investor who had extensive real estate holdings in Pittsburgh and throughout the state of Pennsylvania. As a founding member of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, he was also in large part responsible for the alterations to the South Fork Dam that caused its failure, thereby leading to the catastrophic Johnstown Flood.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After he retired from business, Frick oversaw the construction of the Frick Mansion in Manhattan (now designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark). He bequeathed his extensive collection of old master paintings and fine furniture to create the...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• August Strindberg — Contemporary (Born in 1849) (1849): Pioneering Swedish literary figure, playwright, and essayist of the late 19th century.
• Basil Zaharoff — Contemporary (Born in 1849) (1849): Greek industrialist and arms dealer, known as a 'merchant of death' in global conflicts.
• Bertha Benz — Contemporary (Born in 1849) (1849): Pioneering automotive figure who drove the first long-distance car journey.
• Andrew Carnegie — Contemporary (Died in 1919) (1919): Scottish-American industrialist who pioneered the American steel industry and became a major philanthropist.
• Beate Uhse-Rotermund — Contemporary (Born in 1919) (1919): Pioneering German pilot and influential founder of the modern sex shop industry.
• Berniece Baker Miracle — Contemporary (Born in 1919) (1919): American writer celebrated for her memoir on Marilyn Monroe.
• Al-Ghazali — Shared historical date (12-19 · Died) (1111): Influential Sunni polymath, theologian, and mystic of the 11th century.
• Alan Eustace — Shared historical date (12-19 · Born) (1956): Pioneering computer scientist known for his work at Google and record-breaking space dive.
• Aaron Copland — Shared historical date (12-02 · Died) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Britney Spears — Shared historical date (12-02 · Born) (1981): The 'Princess of Pop', an iconic and influential American singer.
• 1849 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1849
• December 19 (12-19) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 19
• 1919 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1919
• December 2 (12-02) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 2