Franklin W. Olin

Franklin W. Olin

Franklin W. Olin
Born January 9, 1860
Woodford, Vermont,
United States
Died May 21, 1951
St. Louis, Missouri,
United States
Cause of death Heart attack
Education Cornell University
Occupation Professional baseball player, businessman, philanthropist
Known for Founder of Olin Corporation
Board member of Olin Corporation
Spouse Mary Mott Moulton
Children 1) Franklin Walter Jr.
2) John Merrill (1892-1982)
3) Spencer Truman (1900-1995)
Frank Olin
Outfielder
Born: January 9, 1860
Woodford, Vermont
Died: May 20, 1951(1951-05-20) (aged 91)
St. Louis, Missouri
Batted: Left Threw: Unknown 
MLB debut
July 4, 1884 for the Washington Nationals (AA)
Last MLB appearance
June 10, 1885 for the Detroit Wolverines
Career statistics
At bats     177
RBI     0
Batting average     .316
Teams

Franklin Walter Olin (January 9, 1860 – May 21, 1951) was the founder of the Olin Corporation.

He was born in Woodford, Vermont and his father built mills and waterwheels. He studied civil engineering at Cornell University, where he also played baseball; he would play as an outfielder in the American Association for two seasons. After graduating with the class of 1886, he worked in several jobs before founding a blasting powder mill construction business; his first opened in East Alton, Illinois in 1892.

He formed the Western Cartridge Company in 1898 to manufacture ammunition, and during World War I diversified into brassmaking for use in cartridge shells. In 1931 Olin acquired the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. After World War II, Frank Olin retired from management of the firm, leaving it to his sons John and Spencer.

He married Mary Mott Moulton of Toledo, Ohio on May 28, 1889 [1]. They had three sons, Franklin W. Jr. (predeceased), John, and Spencer, all three of whom also graduated from Cornell.

He died in St. Louis, Missouri in 1951. A portion of his fortune was willed to the F. W. Olin Foundation, which endowed numerous buildings and professorships in his name at college campuses across the United States. In 1997 the foundation established Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts.

References