Harvey Firestone

Harvey Samuel Firestone (December 20, 1868 - February 7, 1938) was the founder of one of the first global makers of automobile tires, and one of a handful of entrepreneurs who in the early 20th century turned the U.S. into the world's industrial giant.

Related Topics:
December 20 - 1868 - February 7 - 1938

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Born in the small town of Columbiana, Ohio, Firestone worked for the Columbus Buggy Company in Columbus before starting his own company in 1890, making rubber tires for carriages.

Related Topics:
Columbiana, Ohio - Columbus - 1890 - Rubber - Carriages

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In 1904 Firestone joined Henry Ford to make rubber tires for the newly popular automobiles. In 1900 he created the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, which became one of the world's largest companies. The Ford Firestone corporate marriage was later cemented when Henry's grandson William Clay Ford wed Martha Firestone, grandaughter of Harvey, who then became parents of current Ford Motor Company Chairman, William Clay Ford, Jr.. Ironically, William Clay Ford Jr. was Chairman at the time that Ford terminated its relationship with Firestone due to tire malfunctions on the Ford Explorer.

Related Topics:
1904 - Henry Ford - 1900 - Firestone Tire & Rubber Company - William Clay Ford - Martha Firestone - Ford Motor Company - William Clay Ford, Jr. - Ford Explorer

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Firestone was concerned both with the manufacture of tires and with securing supplies of rubber from trees: At one point, the company had a rubber plantation in Liberia that covered more than 4,000 square kilometers (1 million acres).

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Firestone, Ford and Thomas Edison were generally considered the three leaders in American industry at the time, and often worked and vacationed together.

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The main library of Princeton University is named Firestone Library in his honor. It is among the largest university libraries in the world.

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