E. H. Harriman

Lore & Background

Edward Henry Harriman was born in Hempstead, New York, the son of an Episcopal clergyman. He quit school at age 14 to work as an errand boy on Wall Street and became a member of the New York Stock Exchange by age 22. Harriman began his railroad career by acquiring a small, bankrupt line in upstate New York, reorganizing it, and selling it at a profit. He later became a director of the Union Pacific Railroad at nearly 50 years old, soon rising to chairman of its executive committee; from that point until his death, his word was law on the Union Pacific system. He also served as president of the Southern Pacific Railroad. At his death, he controlled the Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Illinois Central, and several other major railroads and steamship companies. Harriman sponsored a scientific expedition to catalog the flora and fauna of the Alaska coastline in 1899, traveling aboard a luxuriously refitted steamer with many prominent scientists. He also developed an interest in ju-jitsu after a visit to Japan, bringing back a troupe of Japanese wrestlers. Harriman married Mary Williamson Averell in 1879, and they had six children, including future governor and diplomat W. Averell Harriman. He died at his home, Arden, at age 61. His widow later donated land from the estate to create Harriman State Park and established the E. H. Harriman Award for railway safety.

Reader's Guide

Edward H. Harriman was a financier and railroad executive who reshaped American rail transportation through aggressive acquisition and reorganization. He began his career on Wall Street as an errand boy at age fourteen, becoming a member of the New York Stock Exchange by twenty-two. His interest in railroads grew after his father-in-law became president of a Lake Champlain line. In 1881, Harriman bought a failing railroad, the Lake Ontario Southern, reorganized it as the Sodus Bay & Southern, and sold it profitably to the Pennsylvania Railroad. This pattern of buying bankrupt lines, rebuilding them, and integrating them into larger systems defined his career. He joined the Union Pacific board in 1897, became chairman of its executive committee by 1898, and later served as its president from 1903 until his death. He also led the Southern Pacific from 1901 to 1909, and at his death controlled the Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Illinois Central, Central of Georgia, Saint Joseph and Grand Island, Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and Wells Fargo Express. His vision of a unified Union Pacific–Southern Pacific system was realized nearly a century later. Beyond railroads, Harriman sponsored a major 1899 scientific expedition to catalog Alaska’s flora and fauna, bringing prominent naturalists aboard a refitted steamer. He also developed an interest in ju-jitsu after visiting Japan in 1905, bringing Japanese wrestlers, including Tsunejiro Tomita and Mitsuyo Maeda, to the United States for exhibitions. Harriman acquired the Arden estate in New York’s Ramapo Highlands in 1885, expanding it with nearby parcels and bridle paths. After his death in 1909, his widow donated land to create Harriman State Park. In 1913, she established the E. H. Harriman Award for railway safety, presented annually. His son W. Averell Harriman became a governor, diplomat, and cabinet member.

Did You Know?

• Harriman quit school at age 14 to work as an errand boy on Wall Street and became a member of the New York Stock Exchange by age 22.
• In 1899, Harriman sponsored and accompanied a scientific expedition to catalog the flora and fauna of the Alaska coastline aboard the steamer SS George W. Elder.
• James Stillman of National City Bank called Harriman 'not a safe man to do business with,' yet the Illinois Central under Harriman was considered one of the best-run and most profitable railroads.