Charles B. Finch
Encyclopedia
Charles Baker Finch was an American
businessman and lawyer. He served as President and CEO of Allegheny Power System from 1971 to 1985.
. He had three brothers: Henry Leroy Finch Jr., Stephen Baker Finch and John Finch.
Finch grew up in Manhattan and attended the Buckley School and Phillips Academy
, where he was awarded the George Lauder Prize for Excellence in English History prior to his graduation in 1937. He attended Yale University
(B.A., 1941) and Yale Law School
(L.L.B., 1944), where he was comment editor of the law review the Yale Law Journal.
in 1971. He later also became Chairman of the Board
at Allegheny. He served as CEO and Chairman until he was succeeded by Klaus Bergman as CEO in 1985. Finch continued to serve as Chairman at Allegheny for several years.
Foundation and Cooper Union
, where a lab is named after him. He was elected president of the New York City Mission
in 1956 and served in that role for three years. He was also involved in politics, which landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
. Ironically, his first cousin, once removed, Edward Ridley Finch Cox
, married Nixon's daughter.
, New York in 1943. Their son Charles B. Finch, Jr., born in 1954, made a brief run for the United States Congress
in 1984 and also ran for New York's 15th congressional district
on the East Side
of Manhattan in 1986. Their second son, William Finch, was born in 1956.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and lawyer. He served as President and CEO of Allegheny Power System from 1971 to 1985.
Early life and education
The descendant of early English and Dutch pilgrims, Charles Finch was the second son of Henry Le Roy Finch and Mary Farquhar Baker and the grandson of Stephen Baker, President of the Bank of the Manhattan CompanyBank of the Manhattan Company
The Bank of the Manhattan Company is the earliest of the predecessor institutions that eventually formed the current JPMorgan Chase & Co.-History:...
. He had three brothers: Henry Leroy Finch Jr., Stephen Baker Finch and John Finch.
Finch grew up in Manhattan and attended the Buckley School and Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
, where he was awarded the George Lauder Prize for Excellence in English History prior to his graduation in 1937. He attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(B.A., 1941) and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
(L.L.B., 1944), where he was comment editor of the law review the Yale Law Journal.
Career
After graduating from law school, Finch argued multiple cases before the United States Supreme Court. He eventually joined Allegheny Power System where he was elected President and Chief Executive OfficerChief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
in 1971. He later also became Chairman of the Board
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
at Allegheny. He served as CEO and Chairman until he was succeeded by Klaus Bergman as CEO in 1985. Finch continued to serve as Chairman at Allegheny for several years.
Charitable work and politics
Finch sat on the boards of dozens of foundations, colleges, and companies, notable among them the Josiah Macy, JrJosiah W. Macy, Jr.
Captain Josiah W. Macy, Jr. was an American Sea Captain and philanthropist.- Life and Family :He was born into a philanthropic family. The elder Josiah Macy established a shipping and commission firm in New York City, after leaving the family home in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where his parents...
Foundation and Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
, where a lab is named after him. He was elected president of the New York City Mission
City Mission
The City Mission movement started in Glasgow in January 1826 when David Nasmith, founded the Glasgow City Mission . It was an interdenominational agency working alongside churches and other Christian agencies to provide for the spiritual and material welfare of those in need.Agencies in the...
in 1956 and served in that role for three years. He was also involved in politics, which landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents
Master list of Nixon political opponents
A master list of Nixon political opponents was compiled to supplement the original Nixon's Enemies List of 20 key people considered opponents of President Richard Nixon. The master list was compiled by Charles Colson's office and sent in memorandum form to John Dean. Dean later provided this...
. Ironically, his first cousin, once removed, Edward Ridley Finch Cox
Edward F. Cox
Edward Ridley Finch Cox , is the chairman of the New York Republican State Committee and the son-in-law of the late President Richard M. Nixon. Cox is a lawyer in the Manhattan law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP where he has served as the Chairman of the Corporate Department and a...
, married Nixon's daughter.
Background
Finch married Angela Havens of HewlettHewlett, New York
Hewlett is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York on the South Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the CDP population was 6,819....
, New York in 1943. Their son Charles B. Finch, Jr., born in 1954, made a brief run for the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1984 and also ran for New York's 15th congressional district
New York's 15th congressional district
New York's 15th Congressional District is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives located in New York City. It is composed of Upper Manhattan, Rikers Island and a largely non-residential section of northwestern Queens on the shore of the East River mostly occupied...
on the East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
of Manhattan in 1986. Their second son, William Finch, was born in 1956.