Robert Church
Robert Reed Church, Sr. (born June 18, 1839 in Holly Springs , Mississippi , † August 29, 1912 in Memphis , Tennessee ) was an American businessman and philanthropist . He is considered to be the first African American millionaire in the United States.
The son of a white steamship captain and a black slave worked as a cabin boy and steward . After the Civil War , he settled in Memphis as a freed slave . He started a variety of business activities, including real estate trading, and ran a hotel , restaurant, and saloon .
With Church's Park and Auditorium , Church created a center for the city's numerous black populations, in which WC Handy led the dance orchestra. In 1908 Church founded the Solvent Savings Bank and Trust Company , of which he became the first president.
Robert Church has supported many charitable projects.
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Church, Robert |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Church, Robert Reed |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American businessman and philanthropist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 18, 1839 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Holly Springs , Mississippi |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 29, 1912 |
| Place of death | Memphis |