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{{Short description|American businessman (1872–1952)}}
{{Infobox Person
{{Infobox person
⚫
| name = James Alvan Macauley
| image = AlvanMacauley.jpg
| image = AlvanMacauley.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption = [[Time Magazine]] cover from July 22, 1929
| caption = [[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]] cover from July 22, 1929
⚫
|birth_name = James Alvan Macauley
| birth_date = January 17, 1872
| birth_date = January 17, 1872
| birth_place = [[Wheeling, West Virginia]]
| birth_place = [[Wheeling, West Virginia]]
| death_date = January 16, 1952
| death_date = January 16, 1952
| death_place = [[Clearwater, Florida]]
| death_place = [[Clearwater, Florida]]
| occupation = attorney, president of [[Packard|Packard Motor Company]]
| occupation = attorney, president of [[Packard|Packard Motor Car Company]]
| spouse = Estelle Littlepage
| spouse = Estelle Littlepage
| parents = James A. Macauley and Rebecca Jane Mills
| parents = James A. Macauley and Rebecca Jane Mills
| children = Alvan Macauley, Edward Macauley and Mary Macauley Whiting
| children = Alvan Macauley, Edward Macauley and Mary Macauley Whiting
}}
}}
'''James Alvan Macauley Sr.''' (1872–1952) was the president of Packard Motor Car Company] from 1916 until 1939.
⚫
'''James Alvan Macauley''' was the president of [[Packard|Packard Motor Company]] from 1916 until 1939. Alvan, as he preferred to be called, was born in [[Wheeling, West Virginia|Wheeling]], [[West Virginia]] to James A. Macualey and Rebecca Jane Mills.<ref name="ward"/><ref name="time">{{cite web | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,732714,00.html | title = Business & Finance: U.S. Motors Abroad | publisher = Time Magazine | date = July 22, 1929 | accessdate = October 15, 2010}}</ref> Macauley's father was a veteran of the [[American Civil War]] and was imprisoned for nine months in a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] war prison camp. The elder Macauley became the first [[secretary of state]] for West Virginia after the Civil War. The Macauley's moved to Washington D.C. where Alvan was educated in the public schools.<ref name="obit"/> Alvan attended [[Lehigh University]] in [[Pennsylvania]] and gained an engineering degree.<ref name="obit"/> He also graduated from [[Columbian College]] now known as [[George Washington University]] with a [[law degree]].<ref name="ward"/><ref name="time"/><ref name="obit"/> He took a job as a [[patent attorney]] with the [[National Cash Register Company]]. Macauley married Estelle Littlepage in 1895.<ref name="ward">{{cite journal | title = Macauley, James Alvan | author = Ward, James A. | work = American National Biography Online | date = February, 2000 | accessdate = October 14, 2010 | url = http://www.anb.org/articles/10/1001045.html | publisher = Oxford University Press}}</ref><ref name="time"/>


==Early life and education==
⚫
Alvan Macauley moved to [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] in 1901 to become the head of American [[Arithmometer]] Company. He revitalized the company and by 1905 sought to expand the operation. His predecessor had left the company on poor terms, but remained politically powerful in the city.<ref name="time"/> He blocked an attempt by American Arithmometer to acquire an [[alley]] for a factory expansion. The city refused to allow Macauley to expand the factory. Macauley soon left St. Louis for [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]]. The entire factory was loaded onto [[boxcar]]s at night and shipped north to [[Michigan]].<ref name="ward"/><ref name="time"/> Macauley lead American Arithmometer, which would become [[Burroughs Corporation|Burroughs Adding Machine Company]] for five more years in Detroit until 1910 when he was hired as [[general manager]] of Packard by [[Henry Bourne Joy]].<ref name="ward"/>
Alvan, as he preferred to be called, was born in [[Wheeling, West Virginia|Wheeling]], [[West Virginia]], to James A. Macauley and Rebecca Jane Mills.<ref name="ward"/><ref name="time">{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,732714,00.html |title=Business & Finance: U.S. Motors Abroad |publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]] |date=July 22, 1929 |accessdate=October 15, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027210532/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C732714%2C00.html |archivedate=27 October 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Macauley's father was a veteran of the [[American Civil War]] and was imprisoned for nine months in a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] war prison camp. The elder Macauley became the first [[state treasurer]] for West Virginia after the Civil War.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/prominentmenwes00gibbgoog/prominentmenwes00gibbgoog_djvu.txt George Wesley Atkinson, Alvaro Franklin Gibbens, ''Prominent Men of West Virginia: biographical sketches,'' Publisher W. L. Callin, 1890; p. 525.]</ref><ref>Richard Ellsworth Fast and Hugh Maxwell , ''The History and Government of West Virginia,'' Acme Publishing Company, 1901; p. 159.</ref>


⚫
The Macauleys moved to Washington D.C. where Alvan was educated in the public school system.<ref name="obit"/> Alvan attended [[Lehigh University]] in [[Pennsylvania]] and gained an engineering degree.<ref name="obit"/> He also graduated from [[Columbian College]] (now known as [[George Washington University]]) with a [[law degree]].<ref name="ward"/><ref name="time"/><ref name="obit"/> He took a job as a [[patent attorney]] with the [[National Cash Register Company]]. Macauley married Estelle Littlepage in 1895.<ref name="ward">{{cite journal | title = Macauley, James Alvan | author = Ward, James A. | journal = American National Biography Online | date = February 2000 | accessdate = October 14, 2010 | url = http://www.anb.org/articles/10/1001045.html | publisher = Oxford University Press}}</ref><ref name="time"/>
⚫
Alvan Macauley became the president of Packard in 1916. He oversaw an era at Packard when it was the leader in the [[Luxury vehicle|luxury car]] market.<ref name="ward"/> He hired Jesse Vincent an engineer who lead the technical development at Packard. Packard's "twin-six" [[Cylinder (engine)|twelve-cylinder]] engine enabled Packard to step away from the competition and establish itself as an industry leader throughout the 1910s and 1920s.<ref name="ward"/> An eight-cylinder car that began production in 1923 became a favorite of [[European]] [[royalty]] and among the wealthiest American consumers.<ref name="ward"/>

==Company head==
⚫
Macauley moved to [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] in 1901 to become the head of American [[Arithmometer]] Company. Macauley revitalized the company and by 1905 sought to expand the operation. He set his eye on a certain alley, but the city was unwilling to give it to him, as his predecessor, who had left the company on angry terms, still had political pull in the city and was blocking the move. Macauley responded by traveling to [[Detroit]], securing an alley there, and returning to St. Louis. At night after business hours, he had the entire factory loaded onto [[boxcar]]s and shipped to [[Michigan]]. The next morning, city officials awoke to find the factory gone.<ref name="ward"/><ref name="time"/> Macauley led American Arithmometer &mdash; which would become [[Burroughs Corporation|Burroughs Adding Machine Company]] &mdash; for five years in Detroit. In 1910 he was hired as [[general manager]] of Packard by [[Henry Bourne Joy]].<ref name="ward"/>

==Packard president==
⚫
Alvan Macauley became the president of Packard in 1916. He oversaw an era when Packard was the leader in the [[Luxury vehicle|luxury car]] market.<ref name="ward"/> He hired Jesse Vincent, an engineer who led the technical development at Packard. Packard's "twin-six" [[Cylinder (engine)|twelve-cylinder]] engine enabled the automaker to step away from the competition and establish itself as an industry leader throughout the 1910s and 1920s.<ref name="ward"/> An eight-cylinder car that began production in 1923 became a favorite of [[Europe]]an [[royal family|royalty]] and among the wealthiest American consumers.<ref name="ward"/><ref>Herman, Arthur. ''Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II,'' pp. 103-4, Random House, New York, NY. {{ISBN|978-1-4000-6964-4}}.</ref>
[[File:Packard Twin Six Touring 1916.jpg|thumb|Packard Twin-Six Touring, 1916]]
[[File:Packard Twin Six Touring 1916.jpg|thumb|Packard Twin-Six Touring, 1916]]
⚫
The [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] devastated the luxury car market. Macauley sought a foothold in the mid-priced car market. He gained it in 1935 when he hired a team of engineers from [[Ford Motor Company]], [[General Motors]] and [[Chrysler Corporation]]. Packard produced a car that sold for $980, $65000 less than any other Packard automobile. The success of the lower priced car ended the financial crisis at Packard.<ref name="ward"/>


⚫
The [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] devastated the luxury car market. Macauley responded by seeking a foothold in the mid-priced car market. He gained it in 1935 when he hired a team of engineers from [[Ford Motor Company]], [[General Motors]], and [[Chrysler Corporation]], who helped Packard produce a car that sold for $980 – $650 less than any Packard automobile. The success of the lower-priced car ended the financial crisis at Packard.<ref name="ward"/>
⚫
Macauley stepped down as president of Packard in 1939. He stayed on as [[chairman of the board]] until 1948. Packard continued to produce mid-priced cars in the years following [[World War II]]. Macauley resigned from Packard in 1948 after the company lost its place as the leading luxury car maker in America to [[Cadillac]].<ref name="ward"/>


⚫
Macauley stepped down as president of Packard in 1939. He stayed on as [[chairman of the board]] until 1948. Macauley was instrumental in the company's decision to produce the powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which was a key factor in the success of the famous P-51 Mustang fighter in World War II.<ref>Herman, Arthur. ''Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II,'' pp. 103-4, 107, 217, 342, Random House, New York, NY. {{ISBN|978-1-4000-6964-4}}.</ref> Packard continued to produce mid-priced cars in the years following [[World War II]]. Macauley resigned from Packard in 1948 after the company lost its place as the leading luxury-car maker in America to [[Cadillac]].<ref name="ward"/>
Alvan Macauley served as president of the [[American Automobile Manufacturers Association]] and the [[National Automobile Chamber of Commerce]]. He appeared on the cover of [[Time Magazine]] in 1929 after testifying before the [[Senate Finance Committee]]'s subcommittee at the behest of [[Pennsylvania]] Senator [[David A. Reed]].<ref name="time"/> Time Magazine's biography of Macualey noted that he was an avid [[golf]]er, [[woodworker]] and an excellent [[marksman]].<ref name="time"/> Macauley had several personality quirks including a dislike of people who jingled the change in their pockets or had gold fillings in their teeth. A sign over his office door proclaimed, "Important if True." Often his truths were the only ones that counted at Packard.<ref name="ward"/> Macauley died on January 16, 1952 in [[Clearwater, Florida]] from an attack of [[uremic poisoning]] and [[pnuemonia]].<ref name="obit">{{cite news | title = Alvan Macauley, Auto Leader, Dies | publisher = The New York Times | date = January 1, 1952 | accessdate = October 15, 2010}}</ref> He was survived by his wife, three children, ten grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.<ref name="obit"/>

==Organizations==
Macauley served as president of the [[American Automobile Manufacturers Association]] and the [[National Automobile Chamber of Commerce]]. He appeared on the cover of [[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]] in 1929 after testifying before the [[Senate Finance Committee]]'s subcommittee at the behest of [[Pennsylvania]] Senator [[David A. Reed]].<ref name="time"/> Time magazine's biography of Macualey noted that he was an avid [[golf]]er and [[Woodworking|woodworker]], and an excellent [[marksman]].<ref name="time"/>

Macauley had several personality quirks including a dislike of people who jingled the change in their pockets or had gold fillings in their teeth. A sign over his office door proclaimed: "Important If True." Often his truths were the only ones that counted at Packard.<ref name="ward"/>

Macauley died on January 16, 1952, in [[Clearwater, Florida]], from an attack of [[uremic poisoning]] and [[pneumonia]].<ref name="obit">{{cite news | title = Alvan Macauley, Auto Leader, Dies | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = January 1, 1952 }}</ref> He was survived by his wife, three children, ten grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.<ref name="obit"/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Find a Grave|22566010}}

{{Packard}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = January 17, 1872
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Wheeling, West Virginia]]
| DATE OF DEATH = January 16, 1952
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Clearwater, Florida]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macauley, Alvan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macauley, Alvan}}
⚫
[[Category:People from Wheeling, West Virginia]]
[[Category:1872 births]]
[[Category:1872 births]]
[[Category:1952 deaths]]
[[Category:1952 deaths]]
[[Category:Packard]]
[[Category:Packard people]]
⚫
[[Category:Businesspeople from Wheeling, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Lehigh University alumni]]
[[Category:George Washington University Law School alumni]]
[[Category:American manufacturing businesspeople]]
[[Category:People in the automobile industry]]
[[Category:Burroughs Corporation people]]

Latest revision as of 02:20, 13 February 2024

Alvan Macauley
Time magazine cover from July 22, 1929
Born
James Alvan Macauley

January 17, 1872
Wheeling, West Virginia
DiedJanuary 16, 1952
Clearwater, Florida
Occupation(s)attorney, president of Packard Motor Car Company
SpouseEstelle Littlepage
ChildrenAlvan Macauley, Edward Macauley and Mary Macauley Whiting
Parent(s)James A. Macauley and Rebecca Jane Mills

James Alvan Macauley Sr. (1872–1952) was the president of Packard Motor Car Company] from 1916 until 1939.

Early life and education[edit]

Alvan, as he preferred to be called, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, to James A. Macauley and Rebecca Jane Mills.[1][2] Macauley's father was a veteran of the American Civil War and was imprisoned for nine months in a Confederate war prison camp. The elder Macauley became the first state treasurer for West Virginia after the Civil War.[3][4]

The Macauleys moved to Washington D.C. where Alvan was educated in the public school system.[5] Alvan attended Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and gained an engineering degree.[5] He also graduated from Columbian College (now known as George Washington University) with a law degree.[1][2][5] He took a job as a patent attorney with the National Cash Register Company. Macauley married Estelle Littlepage in 1895.[1][2]

Company head[edit]

Macauley moved to St. Louis in 1901 to become the head of American Arithmometer Company. Macauley revitalized the company and by 1905 sought to expand the operation. He set his eye on a certain alley, but the city was unwilling to give it to him, as his predecessor, who had left the company on angry terms, still had political pull in the city and was blocking the move. Macauley responded by traveling to Detroit, securing an alley there, and returning to St. Louis. At night after business hours, he had the entire factory loaded onto boxcars and shipped to Michigan. The next morning, city officials awoke to find the factory gone.[1][2] Macauley led American Arithmometer — which would become Burroughs Adding Machine Company — for five years in Detroit. In 1910 he was hired as general manager of Packard by Henry Bourne Joy.[1]

Packard president[edit]

Alvan Macauley became the president of Packard in 1916. He oversaw an era when Packard was the leader in the luxury car market.[1] He hired Jesse Vincent, an engineer who led the technical development at Packard. Packard's "twin-six" twelve-cylinder engine enabled the automaker to step away from the competition and establish itself as an industry leader throughout the 1910s and 1920s.[1] An eight-cylinder car that began production in 1923 became a favorite of European royalty and among the wealthiest American consumers.[1][6]

Packard Twin-Six Touring, 1916

The Great Depression devastated the luxury car market. Macauley responded by seeking a foothold in the mid-priced car market. He gained it in 1935 when he hired a team of engineers from Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Chrysler Corporation, who helped Packard produce a car that sold for $980 – $650 less than any Packard automobile. The success of the lower-priced car ended the financial crisis at Packard.[1]

Macauley stepped down as president of Packard in 1939. He stayed on as chairman of the board until 1948. Macauley was instrumental in the company's decision to produce the powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which was a key factor in the success of the famous P-51 Mustang fighter in World War II.[7] Packard continued to produce mid-priced cars in the years following World War II. Macauley resigned from Packard in 1948 after the company lost its place as the leading luxury-car maker in America to Cadillac.[1]

Organizations[edit]

Macauley served as president of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce. He appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1929 after testifying before the Senate Finance Committee's subcommittee at the behest of Pennsylvania Senator David A. Reed.[2] Time magazine's biography of Macualey noted that he was an avid golfer and woodworker, and an excellent marksman.[2]

Macauley had several personality quirks including a dislike of people who jingled the change in their pockets or had gold fillings in their teeth. A sign over his office door proclaimed: "Important If True." Often his truths were the only ones that counted at Packard.[1]

Macauley died on January 16, 1952, in Clearwater, Florida, from an attack of uremic poisoning and pneumonia.[5] He was survived by his wife, three children, ten grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ward, James A. (February 2000). "Macauley, James Alvan". American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Business & Finance: U.S. Motors Abroad". Time magazine. July 22, 1929. Archived from the original on 27 October 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  3. ^ George Wesley Atkinson, Alvaro Franklin Gibbens, Prominent Men of West Virginia: biographical sketches, Publisher W. L. Callin, 1890; p. 525.
  4. ^ Richard Ellsworth Fast and Hugh Maxwell , The History and Government of West Virginia, Acme Publishing Company, 1901; p. 159.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Alvan Macauley, Auto Leader, Dies". The New York Times. January 1, 1952.
  6. ^ Herman, Arthur. Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, pp. 103-4, Random House, New York, NY. ISBN 978-1-4000-6964-4.
  7. ^ Herman, Arthur. Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, pp. 103-4, 107, 217, 342, Random House, New York, NY. ISBN 978-1-4000-6964-4.

External links[edit]

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