John F. Dryden

John Fairfield Dryden (August 7, 1839 – November 24, 1911) was the founder of the Prudential Insurance Company and a United States Senator from New Jersey. He was known as the "father of industrial insurance".[1]

John F. Dryden
United States Senator
from New Jersey
In office
January 29, 1902 – March 3, 1907
Preceded byWilliam Joyce Sewell
Succeeded byFrank O. Briggs
Personal details
Born
John Fairfield Dryden

(1839-08-07)August 7, 1839
Temple, Maine, U.S.
DiedNovember 24, 1911(1911-11-24) (aged 72)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Cynthia Jennings Fairchild
RelationsJohn Dryden Kuser (grandson)
EducationWorcester Academy
Alma materYale College

Early life

Dryden was born in Temple, Maine on August 7, 1839. He moved in 1846 with his parents to Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated from Worcester Academy and later attended Yale College.[1]

Career

In 1875, he founded the Widows and Orphans Friendly Society (now Prudential Financial) in Newark, New Jersey, becoming its first secretary and in 1881 its president, serving in the latter position until his death in 1911.[1] His son Forrest succeeded him as president, serving until 1922.[2]

Dryden was one of the founders of the Fidelity Trust Company and was involved in the establishment and management of various street railways, banks, and other financial enterprises in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.[1]

Political career

He was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William J. Sewell, serving from January 29, 1902, to March 3, 1907. Dryden was a candidate for reelection but withdrew because of a deadlock in the state legislature, which at the time elected U.S. Senators. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Relations with Canada (57th Congress) and a member of the Committee on Enrolled Bills (58th and 59th Congresses).[1]

Personal life

Dryden was married to Cynthia Jennings Fairchild (1842–1916). Together, they were the parents of:

Dryden died in Newark, New Jersey on November 24, 1911 from pneumonia,[1] following removal of gall stones two weeks earlier.[4] After a funeral at the Third Presbyterian Church in Newark, he was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery there.[5]

Legacy

His estate was valued at $50,000,000. 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.[1]

His daughter Susan used part of the Prudential fortune to donate 10,500 acres (42 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.[6]

References
  1. "John F. Dryden Dies Worth $50,000,000. Ex-Senator from New Jersey Succumbs to Pneumonia, Following an Operation". The New York Times. November 25, 1911. Retrieved 2010-10-20. Ex-United States Senator John F. Dryden, President of the Prudential Insurance Company of America, also known as the "Father of Industrial Insurance", died at 6 o'clock last night at his home, 1020 Broad Street, Newark, N.J. The ex-Senator was operated on a week ago to-day for the removal of gall stones.
  2. TIMES, Suecial to THE NEW TOHK (20 July 1932). "FORREST F. DRYDEN, FINANCIER, IS DEAD; Former Head of the Prudential Insurance Company, Which Was Founded by His Father. ACTIVE IN JERSEY UTILITIES Also Served on Board of Newark Public Library u Was Long Active in National Guard". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  3. Reel, Special To The New York Times international News (9 February 1929). "COL. A.R. KUSER DIES; JERSEY CAPITALIST; | Donor of Huge Park and Bird Sanctuary at High Point, N.J., Succumbs in Florida. | POWER IN HOME STATE | Long a Director of Public Service Corporation--Aided Medical Centre in City. On Governor's Staff. Gave Great Game Preserve". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  4. "John F. Dryden Operated On". Hartford Courant. November 20, 1911. Retrieved 2010-10-20. John F Dryden president of the Prudential Insurance Company was operated on for gallstones yesterday at his home in Newark, N.J. ...
  5. "JOHN F. DRYDEN'S FUNERAL.; Many Prominent Financiers Attend Simple Services for ex-Senator". The New York Times. 28 November 1911. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  6. "Dryden Kuser, 66, Jersey Aide, Dies". The New York Times. 6 March 1964. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
William J. Sewell		 U.S. senator (Class 2) from New Jersey
1902–1907
Served alongside: John Kean		 Succeeded by
Frank O. Briggs
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