Charles Warren Nash
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Charles Warren Nash (January 28, 1864 — June 6, 1948) was a United States automobile entrepreneur and served as an executive in the automobile industry.
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[edit] Early life
Nash was born to a farming family in Cortland, Illinois on what is now Route 38 — Lincoln Highway. After his parent's separation, at age 6, he worked as a farm-hand in Michigan as an indentured servant. He later became a shepherd to the owner of hay-bailing machinery, then moved to Flint, Michigan where he became a supervisor at a carriage factory in 1890.
In 1897, he had a chance to drive an early automobile, and became very interested in the commercial potential of this young device.
[edit] Automobile industry
Nash co-founded Buick Motor Company with David D. Buick and William C. Durant, and in 1908 became Buick's president and general manager.
In 1910, he was hired as general manager of General Motors (GM). He put this previously debt-ridden company on secure financial footing. However, his reluctance to pay dividends to shareholders resulted in Nash being voted out of his position in 1915.
Nash, who took control of General Motors in 1910 from William Durant, was now fired by Durant when Durant regained control in 1916.
Nash then resolved never again to work for someone else. He bought out the Jeffery Motor Company in August 1916. In 1917, re-named it as Nash Motors.
Nash Motors was very successful marketing cars to North America's middle class.
In addition to running Nash Motors, Charles Nash was also president of the luxury car company LaFayette Motors until that company was bought out by Nash Motors in 1924.
[edit] Retirement
Charles W. Nash retired in 1936. His successor at the company was George W. Mason, who was recommended by Walter Chrysler.
He lived in retirement for twelve years later and died at the age of 84 in Beverly Hills, California. His health failed at the death of his wife in 1947.[1] He died in 1948, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale.
[edit] Timeline
- 1910 — Charles Nash takes control of General Motors from William Durant.
- 1916 — William Durant re-gains control of General Motors and fires Charles Nash.
- 1916 — Charles Nash buys the Thomas B. Jeffery Company.
- 1917 — Thomas B. Jeffery Company is re-named Nash Motors.
[edit] External links
- Nash biography at kenoshacounty.com
- Nash biography at pair.com
- reproduction of Nash's obituary from Nash Motors in house newspaper
- Excerpt from B. C. Forbes and O. D. Foster, Automotive Giants of America: Men Who Are Making Our Motor Industry. New York: B. C. Forbes Publishing Co., 1926, pp. 211-224. Retrieved on: July 22, 2007.
[edit] References
- ^ "C.W. Nash Near Death As His Wife Succumbs", New York Times, August 20, 1947, Wednesday. Retrieved on 2008-06-06. "Charles W. Nash, one of the nation's pioneer auto makers, took a turn for the worse and was near death himself today after he was told that the wife he had married sixty-three years ago had died last night."
| Preceded by Thomas Neal |
President General Motors 1912 – 1916 |
Succeeded by William C. Durant |
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