John F. Dryden
Encyclopedia
John Fairfield Dryden was president of the Prudential Insurance Company and a United States Senator from New Jersey
. He was known as the "father of industrial insurance".
, he moved in 1846 with his parents to Worcester
. He graduated from Worcester Academy
, then attended Yale College
and, in 1875, founded the Widows and Orphans Friendly Society (now Prudential Financial
) in Newark, New Jersey
, becoming its first secretary and in 1881 its president, and served in the latter position until 1911. He was one of the founders of the Fidelity Trust Company. He was involved in the establishment and management of various street railways, banks, and other financial enterprises in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and was elected as a Republican
to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William J. Sewell and served from January 29, 1902, to March 4, 1907. Dryden was a candidate for reelection, but withdrew because of a deadlock in the legislature
, which at the time elected U.S. Senators. While in the Senate, Dryden was chairman of the Committee on Relations with Canada
(57th Congress) and a member of the Committee on Enrolled Bills (58th and 59th Congresses).
He died in Newark, New Jersey
on November 24, 1911 from pneumonia
following removal of gall stones two weeks earlier. His estate was valued at $50,000,000. He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery
in Newark.
In addition to his home in Bernardsville, New Jersey
, Dryden was in the process of constructing a home in High Point, New Jersey that was to be one of the largest homes in the country.
, who would use part of the Prudential fortune to donate 10500 acres (42.5 km²) for a state park at New Jersey's highest point. John Dryden Kuser
, Dryden's grandson, was a state senator and Brooke Astor
's first husband.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He was known as the "father of industrial insurance".
Biography
Born in Temple, MaineTemple, Maine
Temple is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The town was named after Temple, New Hampshire. It is located at the end of Maine State Route 43 , and is said to be one of only two towns in Maine to be situated at the end of a public highway...
, he moved in 1846 with his parents to Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. He graduated from Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy is an independent coeducational preparatory school spread over in Worcester, Massachusetts in the United States. The school is divided into a middle school, serving approximately 150 students in grades six to eight, and an upper school, serving approximately 500 students in...
, then attended Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
and, in 1875, founded the Widows and Orphans Friendly Society (now Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial
The Prudential Insurance Company of America , also known as Prudential Financial, Inc., is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both retail and institutional customers throughout the...
) in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, becoming its first secretary and in 1881 its president, and served in the latter position until 1911. He was one of the founders of the Fidelity Trust Company. He was involved in the establishment and management of various street railways, banks, and other financial enterprises in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William J. Sewell and served from January 29, 1902, to March 4, 1907. Dryden was a candidate for reelection, but withdrew because of a deadlock in the legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
, which at the time elected U.S. Senators. While in the Senate, Dryden was chairman of the Committee on Relations with Canada
Canada-United States relations
Relations between Canada and the United States have spanned more than two centuries. This includes a shared British colonial heritage, warfare during the 1770s and 1812, and the eventual development of one of the most successful international relationships in the modern world...
(57th Congress) and a member of the Committee on Enrolled Bills (58th and 59th Congresses).
He died in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
on November 24, 1911 from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
following removal of gall stones two weeks earlier. His estate was valued at $50,000,000. He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark
right|thumb|200px|Mourning AngelMount Pleasant Cemetery is a large Victorian-era cemetery in Newark's North Ward. It is located on the west bank of the Passaic River in Newark's Broadway neighborhood, opposite Kearny. It occupies approximately 40 acres and is widely used as a park...
in Newark.
In addition to his home in Bernardsville, New Jersey
Bernardsville, New Jersey
Bernardsville is a borough and affluent suburb in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. Bernardsville has the 10th-highest per capita income in the state. Nationwide, Bernardsville ranks 75th among the 100 highest-income places in the United States...
, Dryden was in the process of constructing a home in High Point, New Jersey that was to be one of the largest homes in the country.
Legacy
His daughter married Anthony R. KuserAnthony R. Kuser
Anthony R. Kuser was a businessman and philanthropist who built the High Point monument and donated the land that makes up New Jersey's highest point....
, who would use part of the Prudential fortune to donate 10500 acres (42.5 km²) for a state park at New Jersey's highest point. John Dryden Kuser
John Dryden Kuser
John Dryden Kuser was a New Jersey politician and a member of an influential New Jersey family. The son of Colonel Anthony R. Kuser and Susan Dryden, his father was the President of the South Jersey Gas and Electric Lighting Company and one of the original investors in Fox Movie Studios.Col...
, Dryden's grandson, was a state senator and Brooke Astor
Brooke Astor
Roberta Brooke Astor was an American philanthropist and socialite who was the chairwoman of the Vincent Astor Foundation, which had been established by her third husband, Vincent Astor, son of John Jacob Astor IV and great-great grandson of America's first multi-millionaire, John Jacob...
's first husband.