Origins & Early Life

Leo Max Frank (April 17, 1884 – August 17, 1915) was an American lynching victim wrongly convicted of the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan, an employee in a factory in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was the superintendent. Frank's trial, conviction, and unsuccessful appeals attracted national attention. His kidnapping from prison and lynching became the focus of social, regional, political, and racial concerns, particularly regarding antisemitism. Modern researchers agree that Frank was innocent.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Born to a Jewish family in Texas, Frank was raised in New York and earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University in 1906 before moving to Atlanta in 1908. Marrying Lucille Selig (who became Lucille Frank) in 1910, he involved himself with the city's Jewish community and was elected president of the Atlanta chapter of the B'nai B'rith, a Jewish fraternal organization, in 1912. At that time, there were growing concerns regarding child labor at factories. One of these children was Mary Phagan, who worked at the National Pencil Company where Frank was director. The girl was strangled on April 26, 1913, and found dead in the factory's cellar the next morning.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Amedeo Modigliani — Contemporary (Born in 1884) (1884): Italian painter and sculptor known for elongated, modern portraits and nudes.
• Auguste Piccard — Contemporary (Born in 1884) (1884): Swiss physicist, inventor, and pioneer of stratospheric and abyssal exploration.
• Bedřich Smetana — Contemporary (Died in 1884) (1884): Father of Czech Music, known for Má vlast and The Bartered Bride.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Contemporary (Born in 1915) (1915): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Abba Eban — Contemporary (Born in 1915) (1915): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• Adolphe Pégoud — Contemporary (Died in 1915) (1915): Pioneering French aviator and the first recorded fighter ace of World War I.
• Alexander II of Russia — Shared historical date (04-17 · Born) (1818): Emperor of Russia, known as 'The Liberator' for abolishing serfdom.
• Benjamin Franklin — Shared historical date (04-17 · Died) (1790): American polymath, Founding Father, and inventor who shaped the early United States.
• Benny Wenda — Shared historical date (08-17 · Born) (1975): Prominent West Papuan independence leader and political activist.
• Chaleo Yoovidhya — Shared historical date (08-17 · Born) (1923): Pioneering Thai entrepreneur, originator of Krating Daeng and Red Bull.
• 1884 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1884
• April 17 (04-17) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 17
• 1915 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1915
• August 17 (08-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 17