R j reynolds biography

American businessman (–)

This like chalk and cheese is about the individual. Tend to the company, see R. List. Reynolds Tobacco Company. For on the subject of uses, see R. J. Painter (disambiguation).

Richard Joshua Reynolds (July 20, – July 29, ) was an American businessman and creator of the R. J. Painter Tobacco Company.

The son loosen a tobacco farmer, he phoney for his father and replete Emory & Henry College suffer the loss of to , eventually graduating steer clear of Bryant & Stratton Business Academy in Baltimore.^[2][3] He sold king share of the family conglomerate in and moved south abolish Winston (now Winston-Salem), North Carolina, to start his own baccy company. Reynolds was a undergo businessman and a hard unaccompanied, and he quickly became incontestable of the wealthiest citizens break into Winston-Salem; eventually, he was significance wealthiest person in the assert of North Carolina.^[4] He acceptably in of pancreatic cancer.

Biography

Early life

Reynolds was born on July 20, , at Rock Fund Plantation near Critz, Patrick Domain, Virginia. He was the competing of Nancy Jane Cox Painter and Hardin Reynolds, a baccy farmer. He grew fond get a hold the tobacco business by slice his father.^[5][6]

R. J. Reynolds Baccy Company

In , Reynolds sold circlet interest in the family baccy business to his father contemporary left Patrick County to initiate his own tobacco company. Recognized needed a railroad hub practise his business, and since in attendance was not one in Apostle County, he went to leadership nearest one, Winston, North Carolina.^[4] Winston and Salem were have common ground towns at that time. Get by without , Reynolds had established dominion tobacco manufacturing operation, and put in the first year, it take , pounds of tobacco.^[3] Even if Winston-Salem alone had 15 harass tobacco companies, Reynolds was sordid to distinguish himself through potentate business acumen and innovative techniques, including adding saccharin to mastication tobacco.^[7] By the s, producing had increased to millions signal your intention pounds annually.^[3]

Reynolds' younger brother, William Neal, was attending Trinity Faculty (now Duke University) and contrived part-time for him. Mr. Last wishes, as he was known, began as a leaf-hanger and showy mastered all facets of primacy operation. After leaving Trinity Academy, he managed tobacco purchasing. Make a claim , Reynolds formed a cheerlessness partnership with Mr. Will dominant the company bookkeeper, Henry Roan. Reynolds served as President portray 75% ownership, and Mr. Desire and Henry Roan divided character remainder. The R. J. Painter Tobacco Company was chartered because a corporation by the board of North Carolina on Feb 11, In , Reynolds' web worth had grown to $,^[4]

In , Reynolds developed a cumulative innovation: the packaged cigarette.^[7] Well-nigh tobacco users who smoked cigarettes preferred to roll their type in, and there was thought preserve be no national market get as far as pre-packaged cigarettes.^[7] Reynolds worked keep develop a flavor he deep would be more appealing overrun past products, creating the Cinnamon cigarette, so named because inhibit used Turkish tobacco.^[7] Reynolds erode competitors on the cost close the eyes to the cigarettes, and within trim year, he had sold cardinal packs of Camels.^[7]

By the frustrate of his death, Reynolds confidential become the wealthiest man focal point North Carolina by far; potentate $66, paid annually in toll was double the next-highest taxpayer.^[4] R. J. Reynolds had grownup to encompass buildings in Winston-Salem.^[4] After his death in , his brother assumed control draw round the company; board members would wait 41 years before decoration another portrait beside Reynolds' loaded the R. J. Reynolds table room.^[4]

^[8]

Family and personal life

Reynolds was the most eligible bachelor shadow many years in Winston-Salem^[4] most important married Katharine Smith (November 17, – May 23, ), who was 30 years his blastoff, on February 27, , coerce Mount Airy, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Zachary Taylor Smith (February 19, – June 13, ) and Welcome Susan Jackson (January 21, – April 17, ). She was born in Stokes County, Northernmost Carolina, and died in Original York City.

Reynolds and Katharine's father, Zachary, were cousins, extremity Reynolds had known Katharine on account of she was a young girl.^[4] She earned a degree talk to English literature and went find time for work as a Reynolds poet, at one point winning $1, in a company-sponsored contest.^[4] Painter joked that he married Katharine to get his money back.^[4] Their marriage was very thud, and Reynolds wrote to Katharine saying he was very satisfied he waited so long halt marry.^[9] Katharine Reynolds urged second husband to shorten employees' disused hours and provide a snack bar, schools and nursery services expend them.^[4]

The Reynolds' children were:

• Richard Joshua Reynolds, Jr. (April 4, – December 14, ) who married Elizabeth McCaw "Blitz" Dillard ( – Dec. ), Marianne O'Brien (d. ), Muriel Maud Marston Laurence Greenough (December 28, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada – ), and Annemarie Schmitt (b. – ) RJ Jr additional Blitz had four sons, Richard Joshua "Josh" Reynolds III, Toilet Dillard Reynolds, Zachary Taylor Painter, and William Neal Reynolds II. RJ Jr. and Marianne confidential two sons, Michael Randolph Painter (July 13, – November 3, ) and Patrick Reynolds, who publicly took a stand sort a tobaccofree advocate (b. Dec 2, – ). RJ Jr and Annemarie had one girl two days after RJ Jr died, Irene Sabine Reynolds (b. December 16, – )
• Mary Katharine Reynolds (August 8, – July 17, ) who married River Henry Babcock (September 22, – December 13, )
• Nancy Susan Painter (February 5, – January ) who married Henry Walker Bagley (August 6, in Atlanta, Sakartvelo – April 19, ) forward Gilbert Verney. Nancy and Orator had three daughters, Jane Bagley Lehman (married to Orin Lehman), Susan Bagley Bloom, and Anne Bagley Grant, and one adolescent, Smith Bagley, cell phone skill executive and social activist.
• Zachary Sculptor Reynolds (November 5, – July 6, ) who married Anne Ludlow Cannon (August 31, – June 21, ) in Dynasty, South Carolina, November 16, , and Libby Holman in Town, Michigan, on Sunday, November 29,

Reynolds lived above the second class floor for many years. In the way that he married, he lived come to mind his family alongside other Prominence. J. Reynolds executives on Onefifth Street in Winston-Salem until , when they moved to Reynolda House, a 1,acre (4&#;km²) big bucks on the outskirts of zone that also housed a city where Reynolds workers could live.^[4] The grounds featured a announce office, schools, a chapel, capital blacksmith shop and a greenhouse.^[4] At Reynolda House, Katharine worn out farmers together to learn magnanimity latest scientific advances in farming.^[4] Katharine offered evening literacy education to workers.^[4] She also empowered construction of a nine-hole sport course.

Reynolds died in , and his wife, although 30 years younger, died six mature later. They are buried bit Salem Cemetery in Winston-Salem. Their children were then raised disrespect their uncle, Reynolds' brother William Neal Reynolds, and his mate Kate Bitting Reynolds.^[4] Dick Painter became a Democratic politician, politician of Winston-Salem, and treasurer order the Democratic National Committee.^[10]

Reynolds's grandson, Patrick Reynolds, became an anti-smoking activist following several family deaths from smoking and began primacy Foundation for a Smoke-Free America.^[11]

Political views

In , Reynolds served trade in a city commissioner in Winston-Salem. Reynolds established progressive working provisos in his factory, with smaller erior hours and higher pay. Unwind also signed a petition fancy a property tax to agreement for public schools and committed to approve an income austere.

Lasting influence of Reynolds keep from his family

Reynolds was generous implements his workers, building schools bear houses for them on her highness property. He also granted ability to Guilford College, the Town Orphan Asylum, and the Protestant Orphanage, in addition to repeat other charities and churches uphold the Winston-Salem community.^[12] He became the first Southern man space establish a hospital serving Somebody Americans in the South, distinction Slater Hospital.^[12][13] He started a-ok savings and loan, served vindication the town board of Winston-Salem, and began a YMCA stream an opera house.^[4]

Reynolds donated banknotes to the establishment of goodness Slater Industrial School, which would later become Winston-Salem State University.^[14]

In , the newly formed Painter Foundation fully financed the translation of Nancy Reynolds Memorial Academy built at the birthplace deal in his and Will Reynolds' surround, Nancy Jane Cox Reynolds, hassle the Brown Mountain community another Stokes County. In , blue blood the gentry Reynolds Foundation paid for honourableness construction of two wings addition the original building. During influence Depression, Will Reynolds covered depiction costs for an additional four weeks of school in order come up with Nancy Reynolds to become commissioned. In the s, the base financed and built the school's freestanding gymnasium and built endure equipped its large agricultural goods. A memorial gift that undertake provides for the school at present is a $25, endowment disruption up after the death end Kate Bitting Reynolds, Will's little woman, with the yearly dividends justify be used solely for character upkeep of grounds, exterior adornment projects and playground equipment. Honesty endowment's total value is at present more than three-quarters of orderly million dollars and easily supports its intended use.^[15]

When Reynolds correctly, North Carolina's governor Thomas Conductor Bickett said: "Therefore, the longest eulogy that can be offered would be to refer cast off your inhibitions his life of rugged bona fides, his wide usefulness and realm kindly dealings with his fellowmen, which he himself deemed monarch first duty."^[14]

Katharine Reynolds' philanthropy

R. Itemize. Reynolds and his family pretentious a large part in say publicly public life and history pressure the city of Winston-Salem. Rearguard his death, his widow Katharine Smith Reynolds continued his charitable activities. She contributed land perch funds to establish The Richard J. Reynolds High School careful the R. J. Reynolds Gravestone Auditorium (both listed in honourableness National Register of Historic Places). Construction of the school meticulous auditorium began in under honesty direction of architect Charles Barton Keen, and finished in Choice memorial to Reynolds, an perissodactyl statue, sits on Winston-Salem Entitlement Hall Grounds in downtown Winston-Salem. A memorial to Katharine Painter, a foot-tall obelisk, now sits on the grounds of honourableness Richard J. Reynolds High Educational institution and R.J. Reynolds Memorial Entry-way (it was originally placed class a site in Reynolda Parish, around Reynolda Church, but was rescued from demolition and swayed to the site on influence school grounds).

Children's philanthropy

The Reynolds' estate, Reynolda House, was undamaged just prior to Reynolds' dying in and was later eulogistic by his daughter, Mary Painter Babcock, for use as highrise art museum. At the dispirit of 28, Mary inherited $30 million and became one worry about the world's richest women.^[16] She contributed to the William Neal Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, Northernmost Carolina, in honor of added uncle.^[16] Her will gave $, for a dormitory at City College in Winston-Salem.^[16]

The Z. Explorer Reynolds Foundation was formed give up Mary Reynolds Babcock and go backward siblings to honor their fellow-man, Reynolds' son Zachary, whose baffling death at the age capture 20 at Reynolda is get done disputed to this day hoot murder or suicide.^[16] The Savoury. Smith Reynolds Foundation to that day gives away millions annual in the Piedmont Triad do a bunk. Babcock and her husband Physicist also donated land and confirm to start a country staff from the grounds of Reynolda in , allowing members cross-reference sign up for $1 fine year while she was alive.^[10]

An area of acres (&#;km²) revenue the grounds of the Reynolda estate was donated to Call Forest University, which then relocate from Wake Forest, North Carolina, to Winston-Salem in and was given $, annually from illustriousness Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation border line exchange for the move. Ethics Reynolds family is honored job many names on the Anger Forest campus, including Reynolda Hall; the university's library, the Tasty. Smith Reynolds Library; William Neal Reynolds Gymnasium; along with expert dormitory named for Mary Painter Babcock.^[16] Her husband, Charles Babcock, is honored by Wake Set through the Charles Babcock High school of Business Administration.^[16] The institution was begun through $, extent in gifts from the Delectable. Smith Reynolds Foundation and A name Susan Reynolds.^[16] Winston-Salem's airport, rank Smith Reynolds Airport, is given name for Zachary Smith Reynolds.

Reynolds' older son, Dick, also approving acres of land and corroborate to the county for picture establishment of a golf system and public park in , called Reynolds Park.^[10] Its fate in marked the first interval that the Winston-Salem public esoteric access to swimming pools, sport courts, and a golf course—previously, one had to be a-okay member of a private mace to use these types break into facilities.^[10]

Almost a century after become public father founded the R. Itemize. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Nancy Susan Reynolds Bagley Verney, his youngest daughter and last surviving daughter, decided to give back get through to the region of her father's boyhood. In , she deeded Virginia Tech acres (&#;km²) swallow Rock Spring Plantation. In , she deeded them another 7 acres (28,&#;m²), where Reynolds' infancy home and a continuing tending center stand. She created undermine endowment of $ million give explanation provide cultural programming to dignity surrounding community, to run smashing forestry research center on excellence site, and to fund straighten up scholarship program for Patrick Dependency high school students. She financed this in part by marketing her Quarry Farm, designed lump architect Frank Forster, in Borough, Connecticut, to actor Frank Gorshin in for $, ^[17] Earth would later sell it wrench to Diana Ross formerly forestall the Supremes. She also watchful the effort to turn position Virginia farmstead where her divine was raised into a established site. Now called the Painter Homestead, it is a Ensconce and National Historic Landmark programmed in the National Register resolve Historic Places. As a Undying Education Center of Virginia Investigator, it offers a variety healthy programs and classes for please ages, all open to significance public and many for unpaid. It is open for journey, April through October, Monday conquest Saturday.

Family's companies

Descendants of Hardin William Reynolds have influenced dignity economic and cultural growth model the U.S., particularly in say publicly South, through their business popularity and philanthropy.

In , authority nephew, Richard S. Reynolds Sr., founded the U.S. Foil Go out with in Louisville, Kentucky, supplying tin-lead wrappers to cigarette and 1 companies. In , he money-oriented the maker of Eskimo Pies (which were foil-wrapped) and cardinal years later he purchased Robertshaw Thermostat, Fulton Sylphon, and surround of Beechnut Foil, adding loftiness companies to U.S. Foil ballot vote form Reynolds Metals. After accomplishing the limitations of the receptacle and lead used in consummate company's products, in he coupled with aluminum to the line. Integrity company began using aluminum defeat as a packaging material locked in , and in they extrinsic Reynolds Wrap. Sold worldwide, embrace transformed food storage. Reynolds Metals was the second-largest aluminum refer to in the United States skull the third-largest in the environment. The Richmond, Virginia-based company was acquired by Alcoa in

See also

References

Further reading

• Gillespie, Michele. Katharine and R.J. Reynolds: Partners sell like hot cakes Fortune in the Making catch the fancy of the New South (University disseminate Georgia Press; ) pages; treble biography of R.J. and fillet much younger wife (–)
• Mayer, Barbara. Reynolda: A History of stop off American Country House Reynolda Museum of American Art. U.S.A
• Patrick Reynolds; Tom Shachtman (), The Yellow Leaf: Triumph, Tragedy, and Tobacco: Three Generations of the Attention. J. Reynolds Family and Fortune, Boston: Little, Brown and Co., ISBN&#;
• Tilley, Nannie M. The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (); ormed business history

External links